Smithsonian Associates June 2026 program guide

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Dear Friends and Members,

The folk-art whirligig on the cover captures 250 years of American imagination. From early crafters to the patriotic songs of George M. Cohan, the spirit of the “red, white, and blue” has inspired generations of makers—including the unknown hand that carved, painted, and set this piece spinning in the mid 20th century.

Throughout this guide, you’ll notice the Our Shared Future: 250 icon marking programs that explore the events and individuals who shaped America, as well as those that illuminate the movements and creators who defined its artistic character.

Take a closer look at the aesthetics and pride that fueled the post–World War II Black Arts Movement and the artists behind its music, literature, and visual art (p. 35). Go beyond the familiar “farmer painter” image of Grant Wood to uncover his far more complex inner life (p. 36). And revisit American Realism—often associated with the Ashcan School’s gritty New York scenes— through an art historian who broadens the term to include earlier artists and later movements (p. 37).

Andrew Wyeth drew on the rural landscapes of Pennsylvania and Maine to build a deeply personal visual world; explore the empathy and emotional truth that give his everyday scenes such lasting resonance (p. 40). And discover how the summers that artists Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, and Mark Rothko spent on the Massachusetts coast during the 1930s and ’40s left a profound imprint on their work (p. 43).

We’re just weeks away from the Smithsonian’s celebrations leading into America’s big birthday. If you find yourself on the National Mall, I hope our paths cross—and you’ll certainly see plenty of what Mr. Cohan called the “Grand Old Flag.” Here’s to the red, white, and blue. Programs with this icon showcase the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 initiative that celebrates 250 years of American independence in 2026

Frederica R. Adelman, Director adelmanf@si.edu On the cover: American Flag Whirligig Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson

with this icon showcase the Smithsonian’s world of knowledge and long-term initiatives

Copyright 2026 by the Smithsonian Associates. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Smithsonian Associates, P.O. Box 23293, Washington, D.C. 20026-3293. Printed in the U.S.A. on recyclable paper.

Connect ions Collab orations

Perspectives on America at 250 &

As the United States enters its semiquincentennial year, Smithsonian Associates launches two special program series and a host of commemorative programs as part of Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250. Marking 250 years of the nation’s experiment in self-government, these programs explore the people, ideas, conflicts, and aspirations that have shaped America—and how the past informs the challenges and possibilities ahead.

The Enduring Power of International Exchange

Hosted in partnership with the Smithsonian’s Office of Global Affairs and with embassies that have built strong, lasting relationships with the United States, this series honors the vital role diplomacy, cultural exchange, and mutual respect have played in shaping our nation and its place in the world. From the earliest days surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence to contemporary collaborations in science, art, and global affairs, people-to-people and global cultural exchange have helped advance dialogue and deepen understanding. In this milestone year, these programs underscore how international friendships—nurtured through history, culture, and creativity—continue to strengthen the American story. Each program is free, requires registration, and includes a light reception.

Faith in Harmony: Soundscapes of American Spirituality

Rooted in the nation's commitment to freedom of belief, this five-part series explores the rich and evolving landscape of religion and spirituality in America—including Jewish,

Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Native American spiritual practices, among others—through celebrations of sound. Programs, offered free to the public, feature performances and conversations that reveal the human connections that emerge when sounds resonate in harmony. From the sounding of the horn to the strike of the daf, from the healing of the jingle dress to a cantor’s call to prayer, these soundscapes reflect the tones, textures, and connections of American spirituality across the nation.

Four in-person sessions—hosted in some of the Smithsonian’s marquee performance venues on the National Mall and streamed to audiences around the world—delve into the ways sound can reflect, shape, and amplify diverse faith traditions. The final virtual program weaves together elements of the nation’s spiritual practices, culminating in a symphony of uplifting sound.

Interwoven Knowledge

Indigenous Art and Scientific Research in the Peruvian Amazon

Efforts to preserve cultural heritage and biodiversity in the Peruvian Amazon are increasingly interconnected. Learn how Indigenous Shipibo-Konibo artistic traditions and Smithsonian-supported research work in tandem during a panel discussion with a National Museum of Natural History senior scientist and two Shipibo-Konibo artists.

Wed., June 24, 6 p.m.; Embassy of Peru; CODE 1JDIPLO2; free; registration required

How Spain Supported the American Revolution

The Key Role of Bernardo de Gálvez Spain provided essential support to the American colonies during the Revolutionary War, with Bernardo de Gálvez, the Spanish governor of Louisiana, playing a critical role. A historian illuminates Spain’s contributions to American independence, and a National Portrait Gallery curator highlights a painting of de Gálvez.

Registration for this free Sept. 17 program at the Embassy of Spain begins in August.

Princess Grace

Celebrating an Enduring Legacy

A historian from the Princess Grace Foundation recounts the story of the princess—who was American film star Grace Kelly before she married Prince Rainier III—her support for the performing arts, and her years as a Hollywood icon. Afterward, Princess Grace’s life and legacy are commemorated in a discussion.

In collaboration with the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco and Smithsonian Gardens

Tues., Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m.; Arts and Industries Building; CODE 1TDIPLO3; free; registration required

Science Without Borders

Italian Physicists in American Discoveries

Italian-born physicists Enrico Fermi, Emilio Segrè, and Bruno Rossi were instrumental in the 20th century’s scientific revolution in America. Learn more from a panel of experts, including a professor of experimental physics at the University of Padua, moderated by a National Museum of American History curator.

Registration for this free Oct. 27 program at the Embassy of Italy begins in September.

Beat

Echoing the deepest beats of the heart, drums are perhaps the oldest human instruments, and they figure into faith traditions across the United States. By looking at the percussion of the daf in the American Islamic diaspora, how taiko drumming connects Japanese Americans with Shinto traditions, and the power of Native American drum circles, this program explores how Americans today feel the beat of their faith in harmony.

Thurs., Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m.; Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building; CODE 1W0-997; free; registration required

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

There are 1,248 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each one offering a glimpse into the evolution of complex civilizations, empires, and religions. In this monthly series, historian Justin M. Jacobs gives an in-depth overview of both well-known and lesser-known locations.

Thingvellir National Park

Spread out over a scenic rift valley created by the separation of two tectonic plates and riddled with unusual geologic features, Thingvellir National Park marks the site of the first open-air parliament in Iceland. It also serves as the historical backdrop for the transformation of seafaring Vikings into some of the most isolated and hardy farmers in the world. Jacobs explores the Vikings’ migrations, their strategies for survival on an impoverished and volatile island, and the innovative political institutions they developed to prevent large-scale violence in Iceland.

Wed., June 10, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-556; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Herculaneum and Pompeii

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79, it inadvertently preserved the most extensive and intact ruins anywhere in the ancient world. Drawing on the material remains of Herculaneum and Pompeii, Jacobs paints a lively portrait of daily urban life in the Roman Empire. He explores the fascinating history of the earliest digs at these sites during the 18th century, when they were regarded as a private quarry of Roman antiquities for a Bourbon king.

Wed., July 22, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-564; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Related program: Naples National Archaeological Museum, p. 38

Excavation of Herculaneum, Italy

The Sacred Buddhist Landscape of Bagan

Nearly 4,000 Buddhist shrines, temples, and monasteries dot the arid plains around the ancient walled city of Bagan in Upper Myanmar, dating mostly from the 11th to 13th centuries. Jacobs examines one of the earliest and most spectacular Buddhist kingdoms in Southeast Asia, with a focus on the art and architecture of Bagan and the religious monuments erected during the height of its power.

Wed., Aug. 19, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-566; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Samarra and the Abbasid Caliphate

Once the thriving capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, Samarra in the 9th century served as the center of an Islamic empire that stretched from northern Africa to Central Asia. Its striking spiral minaret serves as an enduring reminder of the Great Mosque that once enclosed this sacred ground along the banks of the Tigris River. Jacobs focuses on Samarra’s rare preservation of Islamic art, architecture, and city plans from the heyday of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Wed., Sept. 16, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-574; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The First Emancipation: Abolition in Revolutionary France

On Feb. 4, 1794, the legislators of France’s revolutionary government abolished slavery in all its colonies. Their decree made France the first country to end an institution that had been fundamental to the enterprise of European colonization for three centuries.

Historian Jeremy Popkin tells how pressure from the enslaved populations of France’s colonies met the idealistic principles of the French revolutionaries. The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte just five years later saw the Black populations of most French colonies forced back into slavery. But his first great military defeat was in 1804, as the former French colony Haiti became the second independent nation in the Americas.

Popkin’s new book, The First Emancipation: The Forgotten History of Abolition in Revolutionary France (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Tues., June 2, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-010; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

A Luxurious Detention

How the U.S. Held Axis Diplomats after Pearl Harbor

In the chaotic days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Roosevelt administration made a controversial decision. To encourage reciprocal treatment of U.S. diplomats trapped abroad, it sent hundreds of Axis diplomats living in the United States to remote luxury hotels. Already stunned by the attack on Honolulu that killed more than 2,400 service members and civilians, many Americans were enraged by the government’s magnanimity towards its enemies.

Harvey Solomon, author of Such Splendid Prisons: Diplomatic Detainment in America during World War II, makes this story come alive as he interweaves eyewitness accounts and personal stories backed by official and private documentation, unpublished memoirs, and contemporaneous reporting.

Wed., June 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-552; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Devil’s Decade: Britain in the 1930s

The Wall Street crash of 1929 unleashed a chain of global events. In Britain, the impact was enormous and led some to refer to this dire economic time as the “devil’s decade.”

During those years of high unemployment, hunger marches, and a growing class divide, the public sought escapism in lavish entertainment. Tabloids also provided distraction, showcasing high-profile murders and royal scandals. The growing threat of Hitler and Mussolini reached British shores in the form of Oswald Mosely’s black-shirted Union of Fascists.

Historian Julie Taddeo discusses the 1930s in which remnants of the Victorian past clashed with an increasingly modern, technological, and socially divided age.

Mon., June 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-714; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

Money Beyond Borders

The Past and Future of International Currencies

In an era marked by concerns over tariffs, political polarization, and shifting global alliances, questions about the durability of the U.S. dollar’s international dominance are becoming increasingly urgent. Economist Barry Eichengreen traces the evolution of cross-border money from the earliest coinage of the 7th century B.C.E. to modern cryptocurrencies and emerging central bank digital currencies. Eichengreen examines patterns in the life cycles of international currencies over the past 2,500 years, offering valuable lessons and insights about how currencies rise and why they fall.

The Westerners

Mythmaking and Belonging on the

American Frontier

Megan Kate Nelson’s newest book, The Westerners, reframes the 19th-century American West by revealing how varied communities built the region even as national myths erased them. She traces federal policies and individual actions that shaped this contested landscape, challenging the celebration of white settler individualism.

Nelson highlights figures such as Sacajawea, not just Lewis and Clark’s guide but an explorer who forged her own path; Jim Beckwourth, a biracial frontiersman whose cultural fluency brought renown; and Polly Bemis, a Chinese immigrant who forged a life in Idaho despite exclusionary laws.

Eichengreen’s new book, Money Beyond Borders: Global Currencies from Croesus to Crypto (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Mon., June 8, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-088; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Brusilov Offensive and the WWI Europe That Could Have Been

The Brusilov Offensive, fought while the battles of Somme and Verdun raged, was responsible for over 2.5 million casualties. Historian and documentarian Indy Neidell explores how, in hindsight, the Brusilov Offensive was the only realistic chance for World War I to end before it did in 1918.

The Imperial Russian Army very nearly forced an armistice, thanks to Gen. Aleksei Brusilov’s pioneering use of practices taken for granted in war today, such as shock troop tactics. Had it done so, the world of 1916 would have been the basis of a postwar future that would have looked very different indeed.

Tues., June 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-012; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Westerners: Mythmaking and Belonging on the American Frontier (Scribner) is available for purchase.

Tues., June 9, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-190; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The London Underground

Since the Victorian era, the London Underground has shaped daily life in the city. It also served as the first model for modern subway systems. From smoke-filled, steam-powered trains to today’s 11-line, 250-mile network, the Underground has been central to London’s growth.

Writer Christian Wolmar traces this evolution through electrification, world wars, and 21st-century expansion. He also highlights key visionaries who helped make the Underground possible: Charles Pearson, who imagined railways beneath the streets; Charles Yerkes, who built major new lines; and Frank Pick, the design pioneer behind the famous logo.

NEW DATE: Thurs., June 25, 12 p.m.; CODE 1CV-089; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

Lincoln’s Tragic Admiral: Samuel Francis

Du Pont

Rear Adm. Samuel Francis Du Pont, once hailed as one of the U.S. Navy’s most capable officers, saw his reputation collapse after the failed ironclad assault on Charleston in April 1863. Though celebrated early in the Civil War for securing a key Union victory in South Carolina, he later became unfairly remembered as a commander who resisted innovation.

Military historian Kevin J. Weddle argues that Du Pont supported technological progress but strongly opposed using the new ironclads against Charleston, warning they were unsuited for the mission. Overruled by superiors, he carried out the attack, sealing his downfall. Weddle highlights Du Pont’s strategic influence and his vital role in modernizing the Navy between the Mexican and Civil Wars.

Mon., June 15, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-700; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Idealists in the Shadows

Helping World War II Refugees

The Boston Tea Party: A Budding Revolution

The 1773 Boston Tea Party erupted in response to the Tea Act, a measure meant to curb smuggling and bolster the East India Company but perceived in Boston as a monopolistic threat to colonial liberty. Local merchants denounced the act as tyrannical, and when three tea-laden ships arrived, about 100 men boarded the vessels and dumped the cargo into the harbor, transforming protest into dramatic defiance.

Historian Richard Bell interprets the event as America’s first major uprising against corporate power and global economic influence, an act he also frames as domestic terrorism that accelerated the breakdown between Britain and its colonies.

Tues., June 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-462; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Despite prevailing isolationist public opinion and an obstructionist government, an informal American humanitarian network of citizen activists delivered aid to and rescued many victims of Nazi oppression before and during World War II. This group of citizens organized to provide emergency relief, establish programs overseas, and resettle thousands of persecuted people in safe havens stretching from Latin America to East Asia. Operating in the shadows, these idealists devised pragmatic, sometimes controversial, solutions to overcome obstacles

History professor Andrew Falk tells the story of these courageous people and how they bypassed organizational rules to funnel money to relief efforts, created schemes to circumvent Nazi currency regulations, and interpreted U.S. immigration laws to resettle persecuted academics.

Wed., June 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-073; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Our programs... your time

Registered for a Smithsonian Associates online program but missed it because of a schedule conflict? Wish you could take a second look at a presentation you loved? Associates Encores offers the answer to these questions—and more.

50 Years that Reforged the Roman Empire

Chaos, Conquest, and Transformation

By the year 235, at the end of ancient Rome’s golden age—the Pax Romana—two centuries of peace gave way to relentless border invasions, civil wars, monetary debasement, and a virulent pandemic, leaving a once-unified empire fragmented.

Yet amid the chaos, asserts historian Colin Elliott, the Roman Empire demonstrated exceptional resilience: By 285, what survived was no longer the classical empire of senators and citizen-legions but a more centralized, militarized state strong enough to survive the collapse of the West and carry the Roman name for another thousand years in the East.

Mon., June 22, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-709; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The American Revolution

Disneyland and the Rise of Automation

Disneyland’s 1955 opening revealed the hidden world of factory automation through groundbreaking attractions. Historian Roland Betancourt traces the park’s first three decades of innovation, highlighting how industrial and military systems were reimagined for themed experiences: Magnetic tape once used for missile testing powered the Enchanted Tiki Room’s animated birds, while programmable logic controllers from assembly lines drove the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Space Mountain. These attractions helped ease public anxieties about automation and job loss in midcentury America, says Betancourt.

His book Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth (Princeton University Press) is available for purchase.

Tues., June 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-014; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The American War of Independence freed the 13 British colonies in North America from Crown rule and set the stage for the United States’ bold experiment in self-government. Drawing on primary sources, historian Christopher Hamner continues his series exploring the pivotal turning points and strategic choices that shaped the course and the conclusion of the war.

JUNE 25 British Strategy in the American War of Independence

AUG 20 Valley Forge: Soldier’s Life in the Continental Army

SEPT 24 Turning Point: The Battle of Saratoga

OCT 22 Cowpens and Yorktown: The Final Campaigns of the Revolution

NOV 19 The Newburgh Conspiracy: Civil–Military Tensions in the Early Republic

Individual sessions: Thurs., June 25 (CODE 1D0-142D); Thurs., Aug. 20 (CODE 1D0-172A); Thurs., Sept. 24 (CODE 1D0-172B); Thurs., Oct. 22 (CODE 1D0-172C), Thurs., Nov. 19 (CODE 1D0-172D); 6:45 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $40

4-session series: Thurs., Aug. 20, Sept. 24, Oct. 22, and Nov. 19, 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1D0-172; Members $100; Nonmembers $120

How Rome Engineered an Empire

Rome did not conquer the Mediterranean by force alone; it engineered it. Aqueducts carried water across valleys and into cities at an unprecedented scale, making dense urban life possible. Bridges transformed rivers from barriers into corridors, binding provinces together year-round. Temples, forums, and public buildings functioned not only as religious or civic spaces but as enduring statements of Roman authority, rendered in stone and concrete. Archaeologist and historian Darius Arya examines the logistical systems that made Roman expansion possible: ports capable of feeding the empire’s major cities, roads that moved armies, goods, and information with speed and reliability, and urban plans that replicated Rome across three continents. Together, these systems turned geography into infrastructure—and infrastructure into power. Rome’s empire endured not simply because it was vast but because it worked.

Fri., July 10, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-162; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Declaration

The Untold Stories Behind America’s Founding Document

Distinguished Professor of American History at Lynn University, Robert Watson, reveals the lesser-known stories, surprising twists, and forgotten voices behind the most iconic document in U.S. history.

Drawing from a wealth of primary sources, he reconstructs the debates, drafts, and drama that surrounded the creation of the Declaration of Independence.

Focusing on the influence of women, enslaved individuals, and Indigenous peoples, Watson brings to light the varied cast of often-forgotten characters and perspectives that shaped the American experiment in his book, Declaration: The Story of American Independence. Along the way, he explores the document’s philosophical roots, its political impact, and the enduring struggle to realize its lofty promises of liberty and equality.

Tues., June 30, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-702; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Saving the Declaration of Independence

How Clerks, Scientists, and Bureaucrats Preserved a National Treasure

Few documents have captured the soul of America like the Declaration of Independence. When the Founding Fathers put pen to parchment 250 years ago, their concerns focused on the words and ideas being recorded. Within a few decades, though, as the document's ink began to fade, the race to protect and preserve this critical part of American history began.

Historian Michael Auslin traces the story of how the Declaration of Independence has survived, bringing to life the physical history of America’s founding document.

His new book, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America (Simon & Schuster), is available for purchase.

Mon., Aug. 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-020; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Lewis and Clark Expedition

An American Adventure

Between May 1804 and September 1806, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, the Shoshone-Hidatsa woman Sacagawea, Clark’s enslaved companion York, and 29 volunteers crossed the continent from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back again. The 2001 publication of the authoritative 13-volume edition of The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition offered an opportunity to take a fresh look at one of the most remarkable adventures in American history.

Clay Jenkinson, a preeminent Lewis and Clark and Jefferson scholar, examines the dynamics of the journals: how they were written, under what conditions, and what it took to trigger a journal mention. His analysis of what the expedition’s six journal keepers included in their entries—and what they did not—offers a deeper understanding of the greatest land exploration in North America.

Thurs., July 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-718; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Loyalists in the American Revolution

Standing by Britain and the Crown Loyalists emerged as the great losers of the American Revolution. These men and women who opposed independence and fought to keep the colonies within the British Empire saw their fortunes collapse after the patriot victory at Yorktown in 1781. History quickly lost sight of them, and from today’s perspective it’s hard to understand why so many ordinary Americans were bitterly opposed to the break with Britain and the birth of a new democratic nation.

Historian Richard Bell reexamines the conflict through the experiences of loyalists from all rungs of the social ladder, challenging stereotypes that portray them as cowardly elites or self-interested officials. Bell explores their motivations, their wartime struggles, and the profound changes they faced once the patriots prevailed.

Tues., Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-472; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Lost Colonies

Americans have long been fascinated by the disappearance of the Roanoke colony, founded on the Outer Banks of modern North Carolina in the mid-1580s. But it was not the only European colony to be abandoned.

Historian Peter C. Mancall explores Roanoke and other lesser-known examples of disappeared colonial efforts, from Nunavut (Baffin Island) in the 1570s to the coast of Maine in 1606 –1607 and as far south as the Atlantic coast of northeastern South America. Mancall also resituates the colonization of eastern North America in its broader geographical setting.

Mancall’s new book, Contested Continent: The Struggle for North America, c. 1000 -1680 (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.

Mon., July 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-078; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The War of 1812: A Closer Look

Historian Richard Bell numbers the War of 1812 among the most misunderstood wars in American history. Its causes, course, and consequences have long been overshadowed by the American Revolution and the Civil War.

The War of 1812 blended battlefield violence with deep political and social conflict at home. It echoed the Revolution’s struggles over loyalty and the Civil War’s battles over slavery, with enslaved people shaping events in decisive ways.

Though the military outcome was uncertain, the war secured U.S. independence, strengthened national identity, expanded states’ rights in the South, and fueled American expansionism. These, however, came at extraordinary human costs. Bell illuminates this by examining the wartime experiences of soldiers and seamen, merchants and laborers, enslaved African Americans, and Native Americans—groups whose stories have often been obscured by history.

Wed., July 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-464; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Embracing La Dolce Vita

Italy’s Miraculous Postwar

Transformation

At the end of World War II, Italy was devastated—occupied by foreign armies, politically fractured, and humiliated by the collapse of Fascism and Benito Mussolini. Yet in the 1950s and 1960s it became one of Europe’s major economic success stories. Though home to Western Europe’s largest Communist Party, Italy aligned with the capitalist world and embraced consumerism. FIAT cars, Vespa motorbikes, Olivetti typewriters, and Italian fashion became global icons. Through popular films, advertising, and design, Italy projected an image of modernity, elegance, and pleasure that captivated audiences worldwide.

Writer and lecturer Adam Tanner explores how this carefully crafted myth of la dolce vita—born from the imagery of Italy’s postwar boom—continues to shape how the nation is imagined both at home and abroad.

Thurs., July 16, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-198; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The Atlantic Empire

A History of French Colonialism

Between 1400 and 1800, Europe, Africa, and the Americas grew more connected by overseas trade and colonization. According to historians Christopher Hodson and Brett Rushforth, accounts of this era have overlooked the reach of the pre-Napoleonic French Empire, which claimed nearly a third of North America and controlled a substantial proportion of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Hodson and Rushforth examine the significant role that France played in the history of the Atlantic world and the ways it shaped France in return. They offer an interpretation of French colonialism influenced as much by Native Americans and West Africans as by kings and bureaucrats.

Their book, Beyond the Ocean: France and the Atlantic World from the Crusades to the Age of Revolutions, (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.

Thurs., July 16, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-717; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Battle of the Meuse–Argonne

From September to November 1918, a hard-fought World War I battle that pitted green, poorly equipped American doughboys against combat-hardened German troops saw the U.S. military come of age in just 47 days in the brutal, devastating clash known as the Battle of the Meuse –Argonne. In that short period, Americans pushed back the enemy and forced the Germans to surrender, bringing the conflict to an end—a feat the British and the French had not achieved after more than three years of fighting.

Military historian Mitchell Yockelson tells the story of the cast of remarkable individuals, including original fighter ace Eddie Rickenbacker; artillery officer and future president Harry S. Truman; innovative tank commander George S. Patton; John J. “Black Jack” Pershing; and Douglas MacArthur, the Great War’s most decorated soldier.

Mon., July 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-914; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Secret Fighters Against American Extremism

Resisting Prejudice After World War II

Historian Steven J. Ross argues that, contrary to the belief that World War II ushered in greater tolerance, antisemitism and racism surged during and after the war. Between 1940 and 1946, violent attacks spread across U.S. cities, and extremist groups more than doubled, coordinating assaults on Jewish and African American communities.

Ross highlights how three figures—Arnold Forster of the AntiDefamation League, George Mintzer of the American Jewish Committee, and James Sheldon of the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League to Champion Human Rights—joined with many others to infiltrate, track, and disrupt these networks at personal risk.

Tracing the extraordinary work of these unsung heroes, Ross provides a reconsideration of the legacy of the “Good War,” while telling the story of the intrepid activists who scored important victories that have been all but forgotten.

Ross’ book The Secret War Against Hate: American Resistance to Antisemitism and White Supremacy (Bloomsbury Publishing) is available for purchase.

Wed., July 22, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-727; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Grand Bargain

The Louisiana Purchase and the Making of America

The Louisiana Purchase is remembered as a bargain that doubled the size of the nation overnight. The story is more complex and consequential, says historian Alexander Mikaberidze, who examines how the 1803 purchase from France redefined the United States and reshaped the world.

Far from a straightforward land deal, he argues, the agreement transferred not land but the authority to negotiate for it—territory owned by Native nations. This shift launched the U.S.–Indian treaty system and led to more than 200 land cessions with far-reaching consequences for Indigenous peoples. Mikaberidze situates the purchase within European imperial rivalries, showing how a debt-ridden colony became a prize and how ambitions reshaped the nation.

His newest book, The Louisiana Purchase: The Grand Bargain and the Making of America (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.

Tues., July 21, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-465; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Eleanor Roosevelt

An Untraditional First Lady

In August 1943, at the height of World War II, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt undertook an extraordinary journey to the Pacific Theater, traveling more than 25,000 miles to visit military bases, hospitals, Red Cross clubs, and remote outposts where American troops were stationed. Author Shannon McKenna Schmidt chronicles the first lady’s five-week journey as she flew in unheated transport planes and bombers, slept on army cots in rustic huts, dined in mess halls, and even trekked through the jungle on a simulated training mission. Schmidt also traces Roosevelt’s transformation from a shy society matron into one of the most visible and consequential first ladies in American history.

Mon., Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1CV-094; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Presidential Pets

Animals in the White House

Anne Hutchinson

Fighter for Religious Freedom

Throughout American history, presidential pets have been far more than loyal companions. They served symbolic roles, shaped public perceptions, softened political images, and offered revealing glimpses into the private lives of the nation’s leaders. Whether cherished dogs and cats or more exotic creatures, the animals of the White House reflect changing ideas about family, leadership, and American society itself. Former White House correspondent Ken Walsh shares stories from two centuries of presidential pet-keeping.

President Ford and his golden retriever Liberty

From Theodore Roosevelt’s lively White House menagerie—including dogs, cats, a snake, guinea pigs, a small brown bear, and a badger—to Macaroni, the pony beloved by John F. Kennedy’s children, Walsh explores how the animal residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue reveal power, personality, image-making, and the human side of the presidency.

Thurs., July 23, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-164; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Homestead Act

American Identity and the Conquest of the West

in Custer County, Nebraska, 1887

For more than 1.5 million families, the Homestead Act of 1862 offered a 19thcentury version of the American Dream, providing 160-acre plots of land on which farms sprang up across the trans-Mississippi West. It triggered a massive wave of migration and contributed key elements to an emerging American identity.

Edward T. O’Donnell, professor of history at Holy Cross College, explores the familiar telling of the Homestead Act’s history, as well as the often-overlooked reality that many homesteaders failed; that fraud and lack of oversight allowed railroads and ranchers to acquire vast numbers of homesteads; and that the great influx of white settlers into the West sparked deadly clashes with Native Americans.

Thurs., July 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-915; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Anne Hutchinson can be regarded as the founding mother of religious freedom in America, says historian Fred Zilian. In the 1630s, her outspoken theological views brought her into conflict with the Puritan leadership of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Tried for sedition and heresy in 1637–38, she was excommunicated from the church and banished from the colony—an extraordinary punishment for a woman in early New England.

Zilian traces Hutchinson’s life, beginning with her early years in England, her marriage, and her journey to New England. The lecture explores the religious meetings that led to her prosecution, the dramatic civil and church trials that sealed her fate, and her banishment and settlement on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island.

Thurs., July 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1CV-090; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

White House Memories

Recollections of the Longest-Serving Chief Usher

In a richly illustrated conversation, Gary J. Walters the longest-serving chief usher in White House history, reflects on extraordinary moments from his 37 years of service. In his role, Walters oversaw the Executive Mansion’s administrative, fiscal, and personnel operations while working closely with each first family from Presidents Nixon through George W. Bush.

He offers rare behind-the-scenes insight into major events, including Watergate and Nixon’s final day, Queen Elizabeth II’s Bicentennial visit, the first papal visit, Election Day tensions, presidential transitions, and a detailed account of what was going on at the White House on Sept. 11, 2001.

Walters’ book, White House Memories 1970–2007: Recollections of the Longest Serving Chief Usher (White House Historical Association), is available for purchase.

Wed., Sept. 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-726; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Jefferson and the Art of Appearance

Early in his career Thomas Jefferson maintained that “To glide unnoticed thro’ a silent execution of duty is the only ambition which becomes me,” yet the trajectory of his long political career landed him in a highly visible role in shaping the new American Republic. Out of the shadows, he quickly learned to create and manage a public image aimed at supporting his political goals.

Thomas Jefferson by Gilbert Stuart, 1821

His image underscored where he stood on political issues, says Gaye Wilson, former Shannon Senior Historian at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello.

Wilson uses portraits, correspondence, period newspapers, and personal records to decipher Jefferson’s public image and what it reveals of his vision and ambitions for the nation.

Tues., July 28, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-091; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Babylon: Metropolis and Myth

Ready, Aim, Independence

Arms of the American Revolution

Both sides in the American Revolution knew the importance of firearms, artillery, and swords in making war. From the familiar “Brown Bess” flintlock musket to the innovative breech-loading Ferguson rifle, and from smuggled French guns to domestically made swords, Revolutionary-era weapons teach us a lot about how people experienced the war and the ways in which the Patriots and the British sought to win by supplying weapons as much as by actually fighting with them.

Kenneth Cohen, the National Museum of American History’s curator of early America, explores how these arms illuminate new dimensions of the American Revolution, telling a larger story about the lives of ordinary men, advances in technology, and the web of trade in which it all happened.

Wed., July 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-019; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Babylon is a name that denotes both the great ancient Mesopotamian city and a symbolic, imagined version of Babylon that appears in many cultural traditions—from the Tower of Babel in the Hebrew Bible and the Whore of Babylon in the New Testament to the 1970s reggae song “Rivers of Babylon.”

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, professor in ancient history at Cardiff University, traces Babylon’s growth from its first royal dynasty to its emergence as superpower in the Near East. The kingdom of Babylonia came into being and, governed by mighty Babylon, set the agenda for what civilization meant. Llewellyn-Jones explores Babylon’s reputation as a city with a dual legacy by exploring its rich ancient past and its fabled mythic story.

His newest book, Babylon: The Biography of a Metropolis (Pegasus Books), is available for purchase.

Mon., Aug. 3, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-166; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Colonial Florida

St. Augustine and Beyond

The early history of Florida is often cast as Spanish conquistadors coming to a miserable place and embarking on quixotic quests in search of magical fountains and cities of gold, only to find death, poverty, and despair. Yet this familiar narrative obscures a more complex history.

Historian J. Michael Francis explores the earliest decades of Florida’s colonial past, including the 1565 founding of St. Augustine—the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in what is now the United States. Drawing on his public history initiative, the Lost Voices project, Francis tells the intersecting stories of European settlers, Native Americans, and Africans, revealing a dynamic, interconnected world.

Mon., Aug. 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-093; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Joan of Arc

Saint, Soldier, and Leader

In April 1429, Joan of Arc rode into the besieged city of Orleans. In May 1431, she was burned at the stake in Rouen. The 25 months between changed the histories of France, of England, and, as the Hundred Years War played out, of Europe itself. Few people in history have achieved so much in so little time, says military historian Michael Livingston, and few have captured the imagination of the world so thoroughly.

Drawing from his 2025 book Bloody Crowns, a critical revision of how modern Europe arose from medieval battlefields, Livingston re-examines the story of Joan—what we know of her, how we know of her, and how a teenaged girl could have such an impact on a male-dominated age.

Tues., Aug. 11, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-720; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Invest in the Future

“I have learned so much at Smithsonian Associates, particularly in the areas of object-based learning, teaching, and administration. It has cemented my choice to go into museum education, and the staff has given me a lot of advice regarding my future path.”

—2025 intern

The Great Fire of London

The Destruction and Rebirth of a City

For almost five days in early September 1666, London was engulfed in flames. Beginning in a bakery, the fire spread quickly, ultimately destroying the heart of the third-largest city in the Western world. Although urban fires were common, a unique combination of circumstances allowed this one to race through the city, igniting stores of combustible goods.

Tudor and Shakespeare historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger examines how decisions made by city leaders, changes in weather conditions, and actions taken by the royal family influenced the fire’s spread and eventual containment. She traces the event’s lasting impact, including debates over how the city would be rebuilt and how those decisions shaped London’s future. She also surveys the social, economic, and political effects of the fire in the years that followed.

Wed., Aug 12, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-470; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Support Paid Internships for Smithsonian Summer Camp

Your Gift Creates Opportunity

Each summer, Smithsonian Associates offers transformative internships to college students who help deliver vibrant and memorable hands-on learning experiences to more than 1,000 children in our summer camps on the National Mall. For many interns, a paid opportunity makes all the difference. In 2025, three dedicated interns were welcomed into the program.

With your support, this year we can once again attract the best and brightest candidates and ensure that these talented and passionate young adults—regardless of financial background—can access these life-changing roles and build skills in museum education, project management, event planning, and problem solving.

This summer, we’re excited to welcome three interns, each receiving a $7,700 stipend. To fully support their experience, we’re aiming to raise $23,100. Your contribution—at any level—will help us reach that goal.

To donate or learn more about supporting paid internships for Smithsonian Summer Camp, please scan the QR code or visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/invest

Mycenean Culture

From the earliest discoveries of what came to be known as “Mycenaean culture,” it has been unclear exactly how to understand it. Classicist and archaeologist Dimitri Nakassis explores the archaeological and textual evidence for the Mycenaean world, which turns out to be too complex to fit neatly into simple categories. Across half a millennium of history (ca. 1650–1100 B.C.E.) and stretching from the eastern shores of the Aegean to the Ionian Sea and beyond, Mycenaean communities took many different forms.

In the 150 years since the discovery of the shaft graves by Heinrich Schliemann, much has been learned about Late Bronze Age Greece, which continues to produce exciting new discoveries every year. These findings not only fascinate; they also pose new questions and challenge long-held assumptions.

Tues., Aug. 18, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-919; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots

Cousins in a Royal Conflict

The rivalry between Elizabeth I of England and Mary, Queen of Scots, was one of the most dramatic political and religious conflicts of the 16th century. Elizabeth, a Protestant ruling an anxious England, faced constant Catholic plots to replace her with Mary, a Catholic with a strong hereditary claim to the English throne. Mary’s turbulent life—from her troubled reign in Scotland to her long English captivity—made her a magnet for conspiracies, though her direct involvement remains debated.

Historian Amy Leonard explores their fraught, indirect relationship: two related queens, never meeting in person, yet bound by rivalry and international intrigue. Mary’s execution in 1587 ended a major threat to Elizabeth but deepened tensions between Protestant England and Catholic Europe.

Wed., Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-918; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

The Romanian Campaign

The Pivot That Reshaped WWI

The Romanian Front is one of the most often overlooked of the many battlefronts of the First World War, and yet when the country entered the war in late August 1916, its appearance as a new enemy forced all four Central Powers to divert many of their best troops and thousands of tons of weapons and supplies from other fronts where they were desperately needed.

Historian Indy Neidell notes that Germany was stretched so thin that its leadership even feared Denmark might exploit the situation. Although the Central Powers launched massive offensives, they failed to fully conquer Romania or remove it from the war. With Russia collapsing, Romania became one of the Entente’s few remaining advantages, significantly contributing to the Central Powers’ final exhaustion by 1918.

Wed., Aug. 19, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-023; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Roman North Africa

Empire at the Edge of the Sahara

Roman North Africa was one of the empire’s most productive and culturally complex regions. From Morocco to Libya, Rome reshaped regions long influenced by Phoenician, Punic, Numidian, and Libyan cultures, layering its rule over deep local traditions. In Algeria, cities like Timgad show Rome’s military precision, securing the desert frontier. Tunisia’s Carthage, once Rome’s enemy, became a major capital and agricultural hub that fed Italy. In Libya, Leptis Magna and Cyrene thrived on trade linking the Mediterranean to sub-Saharan Africa, moving grain, oil, animals, and people across vast routes.

Archaeologist and historian Darius Arya examines the vital role of Roman North Africa, showing how it fed Rome, connected continents, and fused African, Punic, Greek, and Roman worlds into one of the empire’s most successful provinces.

Wed., Aug. 26, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-168; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Plantagenet Dynasty

Power, Identity, and the Making of Medieval Britain

Few royal houses shaped the political and cultural landscape of medieval Britain more profoundly than the Plantagenets. Ruling from the 12th to the 15th centuries, they forged an empire stretching from Scotland to the Pyrenees, developed Parliament, clashed with the Church, fought crusades, and waged the Hundred Years’ War, all while also inspiring some of the most enduring legends in British history.

In a full-day seminar, historian Cheryl White traces how perceptions of the Plantagenets have evolved over time, examining the dynasty’s role in shaping law, kingship, national identity, and historical memory. As modern scholarship reassesses these rulers to attempt to separate myth from reality, White explores why the Plantagenets remain a source of enduring fascination.

Sat., Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-473; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

Katherine Parr: More Than the “Survivor”

Many people know the six wives of Henry VIII through the famous rhyme: Divorced, beheaded, died, / Divorced, beheaded, survived Dismissed for many years as simply the “survivor,” Katherine Parr was reimagined as a matronly nursemaid who kept the ailing king comfortable in his final years, fading loyally into the background. Recent portrayals reveal a woman who was a potentially devious political operator, focused on her survival at the expense of others. Nursemaid, manipulator, or something else entirely: Who was the real Katherine Parr? Tudor and Shakespeare scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger draws on the the latest scholarship to provide a fuller portrait of this complex woman who caught the eye of an infamous king and kept his favor in a volatile and dangerous court.

Tues., Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-474; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Support Smithsonian Associates’ lifelong learning programs

Unlike the museums, Smithsonian Associates is not federally funded and relies entirely on donations and essential membership support to bridge the gap between program expenses and registration revenue. If the joy of learning enriches your life, please consider a charitable gift in support of the vibrant educational experiences that open the Smithsonian's world of knowledge to audiences across the country.

SmithsonianAssociates.org/donate

The Shippers

Novelist Katherine Center and Why Love Is Good for You

Romance novelist Katherine Center has written more than a dozen novels about women finding resilience, joy, and love. Her newest, The Shippers, follows JoJo Burton as she boards a cruise for her sister’s wedding determined to fix her unlucky love life by pursuing an old crush.

She recruits her childhood best friend Cooper as her wingman, but the trip that forces them to share close quarters (and sunburns) rekindles old feelings as they stumble into realizing they might be meant for each other.

Center discusses how—and why—she writes about love, the ways life’s lessons have shaped her work, and why she thinks falling in love is good for you. The Shippers (St. Martin’s) is available for purchase.

Mon., June 1, 6:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1W0-999; Members $20; Nonmembers $30 In Person

Stories from the American Songbook

Irving Berlin and George and Ira Gershwin

Explore and enjoy glorious songs from the great American Songbook with stories about their long, oftenunexpected lives. Emmy Award–winning writer and documentary filmmaker Sara Lukinson’s abundant sampling of clips— and lively storytelling—make for joyful and moving evenings to spend with Irving Berlin and George and Ira Gershwin, along with the artists who keep their songs alive.

JUNE 9 Let’s Face the Music and Dance: Songs by Irving Berlin

JUNE 23 It’s Wonderful: The Songs of George and Ira Gershwin

2-session series: Tues., June 9 and 23, 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-710; Members $50; Nonmembers $70

Individual sessions: Tues., June 9 (CODE 1K0-711); Tues., June 23 (CODE 1K0712); 6:45 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Animating the Victorians

Disney’s Literary History

Disney has long adapted Victorian children’s literature, from Alice in Wonderland to Peter Pan and Hans Christian Andersen’s tales. Literary scholar Patrick Fleming, author of Animating the Victorians: Disney’s Literary History, follows these works from concept to film release and into sequels, merchandise, and theme park attractions that form Disney franchises.

Across the production cycles, studio writers engaged with the original texts, their historical contexts, authors’ lives, and prior adaptations. Walt Disney’s career parallels that of Charles Dickens, says Fleming, and Victorian ideologies shape the Disney princess franchise. Fleming examines how Disney’s musicals, parks, copyright strategies, and marketing rely on cultural frameworks emerging from 19th-century England.

Wed., June 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-011; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks: Grandmasters of Comedy

For more than seven decades, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks made America laugh, through either their remarkable solo careers or their legendary partnership. These giants of American comedy conquered every medium they took on: television, films, Broadway, and recordings.

Media historian Brian Rose takes a look at (and gives a listen to) their extraordinary achievements, from their work together on comedian Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows” and their creation of the classic 2,000-Year-Old Man sketches to their accomplishments as writers, directors, and performers.

Thurs., June 4, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-553; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra In Person

Under the artistic direction of maestro Charlie Young, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (SJMO) has celebrated some of the greatest jazz music as one of the crown jewels of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The orchestra’s 2026 concerts add to that tradition.

Let Freedom Ring

Since 1776, generations of Americans have pursued life, liberty, and happiness—the “unalienable rights” enshrined in the nation’s founding document. These enduring ideals have been a source of inspiration, hope, and, at times, conflict, as Americans have wrestled with their meaning and struggled to bring them to life. In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, SJMO presents a powerful concert that explores the role of jazz as a guiding force in the national journey to “a more perfect union.” Jazz, with its roots in resilience, resistance, and reinvention, has long been a soundtrack to America’s evolving story. The program features stirring works that capture the spirit of protest, the hope of freedom, the depth of spirituality, and the pride of patriotism. Highlights include Billy Taylor’s poignant “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free,” Charles Mingus’ “Fables of Faubus,” and Max Roach’s “Freedom Day.” The concert features vocalist Shacara Rogers West

Fri., June 5, 7 p.m.; Warner Bros. Theater, National Museum of American History; CODE 1P0-894; Members $30; Nonmembers $40; Program content is subject to change.

Fairies: A History

Before the rise of the cliched “small, winged fairy” in the 19th century, fairies encompassed a vast range of supernatural, human-like creatures—from the elves of Scandinavia and the aos sí of Ireland to the vilas of the Balkans and the fadas of Iberia.

Historian and folklorist Francis Young traces the roots of fairy belief across Europe, from ancient folklore to the Middle Ages and beyond. He explores how belief in these beings became a global phenomenon and considers the surprising ways these beliefs endure today, revealing how fairy lore continues to influence culture. His book Fairies: A History (Polity) is available for purchase.

Wed., June 10, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-156; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Fairy Tales: American Traditions

It’s easy to think of fairy tales as something distinctly European or antiquated. After all, many of the most famous fairy-tale collectors and writers lived hundreds of years ago in Germany (the Grimms), France (Beaumont and Perrault), or Denmark (Hans Christian Andersen). But fairy tales can be found all over the world, including in the United States, where they’re still being created and told today.

Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman discuss fairy-tale traditions and stories from around the United States, including the Jack Tales of Appalachia, Black folk and fairy tales from the South, and the rise of the Disney fairy-tale empire. They also offer insights into how these supposedly frivolous stories permeate American culture and stay with us ever after.

Wed., July 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-560; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Volunteer opportunity. Be an Activity Leader this summer at a Smithsonian Sleepover, held at the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.—guiding young explorers through games, discovery, and unforgettable after-hours museum magic. Visit s.si.edu/SleepoverVolunteer for additional information and dates.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Venice Biennale

Every two years, the Venice Biennale transforms Venice into a living museum. This cultural extravaganza has grown into one of the world’s most influential exhibitions of contemporary art, architecture, cinema, dance, music, and theater, showcasing groundbreaking work from more than 90 nations. Art historian Jennie Hirsh explores the Biennale’s landmark 2026 edition, “In Minor Keys.”

Thurs., June 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-160B; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Yoga and Aging: Accessible Yoga Practices

Yoga therapist Linda Lang offers an introduction to accessible yoga practices designed for individuals who prefer or require seated and chair-based movement. Grounded in classical yoga principles and informed by an integrative medicine perspective, Lang demonstrates how yoga postures, breathing techniques, and mindful movement can be adapted to accommodate physical changes while maintaining therapeutic benefit.

Participants explore essential seated poses, supported standing practices, and everyday movement strategies that support balance, joint health, and functional mobility. The session is inclusive and experiential, welcoming both observation and participation, and includes time for questions and discussion.

Thurs., June 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-192; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Hamilton’s New York Where History Meets Hip-Hop

As the Schuyler sisters proclaim, “The revolution’s happening in New York.” Step into that turbulent city during the 18th century and explore the places, people, and events that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking Hamilton: An American Musical. Led by the owner of Broadway Up Close, Tim Dolan, this time-travelling virtual tour traces Alexander Hamilton’s life and legacy through the streets that shaped him, examining how New York functioned as a crucible for revolution, finance, politics, and ideas in the 1700s. Along the way, Dolan links moments from the long-running musical to their historical foundations and uncovers lesser-known stories about Hamilton and his contemporaries. He also pulls back the curtain on the creation of the musical, sharing insights and anecdotes that reveal how Revolutionary-era history was transformed into a modern cultural phenomenon

Wed., June 24, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-194; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Japanese Culture Through the Eyes of Studio Ghibli Miyazaki, Takahata, and Beyond

The anime creations of Studio Ghibli in Japan have traversed the globe since it was founded in 1985. Linda Ehrlich, who has taught Asian studies and Japanese film for several universities, focuses on the artistic and cultural influences of two of the studio’s key films: Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi, 2001), directed by Miyazaki Hayao, and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Kaguya-hime, 2013), directed by Takahata Isao.

Ehrlich also analyzes other Studio Ghibli films, including Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke (1997) and Takahata’s Only Yesterday (Omoide poro poro, 1991). In addition, she considers what might happen to the Ghibli brand after the death of Takahata and the (frequently) announced retirement of Miyazaki. Mon., Oct. 5, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-542; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Spirited Away, 2001

Spring Wine Adventures

A New Season of Wines | A Top Sommelier’s Guide

Spend a fascinating Friday evening expanding your knowledge of the world of wine as you sip along with sommelier Erik Segelbaum. The immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.

In a Burgundian State of Mind

Burgundy is considered one of the apex wine regions of the world. Outside of Burgundy, many producers use the Burgundian viticultural model as the benchmark for their wines. This deep dive examines the styles of Burgundian wines and the viticultural and winemaking techniques that producers are adopting to push their wines to greater heights.

Fri., June 26, 6 p.m.; CODE 1T0-064; Members $70; Nonmembers $85

See p. 21 for wine-tasting kit information

Living Dangerously on Film

A

History

of Movie Stunts

Stunt performers risk their lives to craft the breathtaking illusions of action cinema, diving from horses, smashing through vehicles, and executing feats—sometimes with clothes aflame—that no leading actor could safely attempt.

In old Hollywood, the work of stuntmen and stuntwomen remained anonymous. But later it became known that Yakima Canutt—not John Wayne—made the daring horseto-horse leap in 1939’s Stagecoach, and that Rick Sylvester stood in for Roger Moore in several James Bond entries. A few actors, like Buster Keaton and later Jackie Chan, performed their own stunts without doubles.

Film historian Max Alvarez jumps into a multimedia exploration of this tradition, revealing the secrets behind Harold Lloyd’s clock dangling in Safety Last and the behind-the-scenes stunt miracles of Vic Armstrong in Raiders of the Lost Ark

Wed., July 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-715; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Dressing the Story

How Costumes Style Character on Film

Costume design shapes a film’s storytelling by using clothing to express character, history, and emotion while anchoring the narrative in a specific time, place, and genre. In Hollywood’s studio era, vast wardrobe departments dressed stars in glamorous, idealized designs for historical epics and contemporary films—often influencing mainstream fashion.

As independent filmmaking grew and realism became more valued, costume design reflected authentic, character-driven choices that span a broader range of experiences. Working with actors, designers use custom creations, costume houses, and contemporary clothing to help performers inhabit their roles. Nancy Friedland, librarian for film studies and performing arts at Columbia University, traces the evolution of costume design in American cinema and explores how wardrobe remains an essential element of character and narrative.

Thurs., July 9, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-196; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

National Treasure

A Blockbuster Co-starring the Declaration of Independence

In 2004’s National Treasure, historian and cryptographer Benjamin Franklin Gates hunts for a lost treasure using a secret map hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence. This fan favorite has introduced a generation of young people to the wonders of the past while raising questions about America’s founding era.

Historian Denver Brunsman separates fact from Hollywood fiction, using film clips to explain the real stories behind the Declaration, the Freemasons, and other historical references. In this case, truth proves even more stirring than fiction: The Declaration’s history is almost as improbable as a movie plot. Brunsman traces how a years-long crisis with imperial Britain culminated in the document, which—against all expectations— became synonymous with independence and has inspired Americans and the world, including filmmakers and filmgoers, for 250 years.

Thurs., July 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-015; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Summer Wine Adventures: Southern Stars |

Spend three fascinating Friday evenings expanding your knowledge of the world of wine as you sip along with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in a series of delectable adventures. Each immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.

JULY 24 Sensational South Africa

AUG 21 New Zeal for New Zealand

The storied wine history of South Africa—which began in the 1650s—predates that of many regions in France and the rest of Europe. The country’s world-class winemaking is reflected in its diversity of styles, unique grapes, and commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Jim Clarke, marketing manager of Wines of South Africa for the United States, joins Segelbaum to explore some of the nation’s most exciting wines.

SEPT 18 Amazing Australia

Australia’s wine industry dates back to 1788. Over the years it has evolved into a global powerhouse known for quality, innovation, and uniqueness. While most famous for Shiraz (Syrah), Australia has over 60 distinct wine regions across an immense diversity of geography.

While New Zealand might be best known for Sauvignon Blanc, there’s much more to explore. Learn how the region’s high level of ultraviolet radiation and oceanic proximity (every vineyard is within 80 miles of the ocean) influence the tastes and terroirs. Discover why this small multi-island nation is a leader in premium, foodfriendly wine as you taste through some of New Zealand’s most exciting wines and wineries.

3-session series: Fri., July 24, Aug. 21, and Sept. 18, 6 p.m.; CODE 4WINE2026; Members $180; Nonmembers $225

Individual sessions: Fri., July 24 (CODE 1T0-075); Fri., Aug. 21 (CODE 1T0-076); Fri., Sept. 18 (CODE 1T0-077); 6 p.m.; Members $70; Nonmembers $85

Wine-tasting kit information: The cost includes a curated personal tasting kit with enough wine for one person to sample the full lineup of wines. Additional participants must register individually to receive their own tasting kit, which is an essential component of the workshop.

Update: Kits are available during two scheduled pick-up times the day before the program and the day of the program at Cowbell Seafood & Oyster (Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE, Washington, D.C.; Metro: NoMa–Gallaudet U station, Red line.)

NOTE: Patrons will receive additional wine tasting kit pick-up information by email prior to the program. Due to state and federal laws, Smithsonian Associates cannot ship wine kits. However, SOMLYAY may be able to provide kits to participants outside the Washington, D.C., area (who must cover shipping costs). Please contact erik@thesomlyay.com for more information.

Scorsese and De Niro

A Collaboration Fueled by Intensity

Martin Scorsese Robert De Niro

During the past half century, director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro have crafted epic explorations of the dark side of American society and human nature. In 10 titles from Mean Streets to Killers of the Flower Moon, De Niro brilliantly applied his Method acting training to electrify audiences with characters marked by a deceptive, calculating detachment.

The Scorsese–De Niro collaborations are legendary and influential for their striking use of camera choreography, precision editing, explosive musical soundtracks, unglamorized mental or physical violence, and gritty dark humor. While filmmakers have attempted to replicate Scorsese’s directorial techniques, most have failed to capture the psychology and historical awareness behind his stylistic and narrative ironies. Film historian Max Alvarez pays tribute to a director–actor team unsurpassed in Hollywood history.

Wed., Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-716; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

The Colorful History of the Little Black Dress

Versatile and timeless, the little black dress is the fashion equivalent of the popular Model T Ford in its time. In this illustrated lecture, cultural historian Leslie Goddard traces the evolution of this enduring style icon. Discover how Coco Chanel transformed black from a color of mourning into a symbol of modern elegance; how Audrey Hepburn cemented the little black dress’s place in popular culture; and how tastemakers and designers— from Betty Boop to Prada—have continually reinvented it for new generations.

Thurs., July 30, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-092; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

A Suitable Style: The Revolutionary History of Men’s Suits

Why do men across the world dress so alike? When the American Revolution transformed global ideas about governance, it also sparked an upheaval in style. As the new nation distanced itself from European royals, its leaders rejected the ornate fashions of the aristocracy in favor of sober suits. These styles would become the foundation of menswear for the next 250 years, explains Chloe Chapin, a historian who also was a costume designer on Broadway. Tracing the evolution of the modern suit, Chapin explores what it has meant to the men who created it, the women who later adopted it, and those who rebelled against it.

Chapin’s new book, Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Fashioning of Modern Men (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.

Thurs., Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-081; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

In Person

How Comedy Shaped American History

The Smithsonian Institution and the National Comedy Center hold outstanding collections of objects that illustrate the importance of comedy in American life, from 19th-century vaudeville, minstrel, and puppet shows to stand-up comedians, television satire, and internet memes. The new book Funny Stuff: How Comedy Shaped American History showcases these collections with photographs and essays.

Coauthors Laura LaPlaca, head of the National Comedy Center’s Carl Reiner Department of Archives & Preservation, and Ryan Lintelman, entertainment curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NMAH), tell the stories of rarely exhibited artifacts and recount the lives of several comics and their influence on American culture. Following the lecture, attendees view objects from NMAH that are not currently on public display.

Funny Stuff: How Comedy Shaped American History (Rutgers University Press) is available for sale and signing.

Jerry Seinfeld wore the nowlegendary “puffy shirt” in a 1993 episode of his NBC series

Fri., July 31, 12 p.m.; National Museum of American History, Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music; CODE 1J0-563; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

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“Bluebeard”

The story of “Bluebeard” has a long history and a strong presence in the annals of the fairy tale. The classic version by Charles Perrault tells of a beautiful young girl who is swept off her feet by a wealthy man and brought to his splendid castle. When she enters the forbidden chamber, she discovers that he has murdered all his previous wives, and she only escapes their fate with the aid of her siblings. Variants of the story can be found around the world.

Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman of the Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic do a deep dive into “Bluebeard,” exploring what some of the oldest versions look like, why it has periods of popular resurgence, and how the story has been retold in contemporary times. This lecture includes prompts for audience interaction.

Wed., Aug. 5, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-565; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

“Revolver”

The Beatles at the Height of Their Experimental Genius

Arguably the most famous rock group in history, the Beatles left a legacy both cultural and musical. Music historian Stephen Schultz explores their seventh studio album, “Revolver” (1966), on the 60th anniversary of its release.

Examining all 14 songs of the original British release, Schultz offers a deep dive into their musical and lyrical content, as well as a look at the studio wizardry behind them. He also illuminates the cultural context and impact of the album, tracing the band’s interactions with other musicians, notably Bob Dylan, and the global phenomenon of Beatlemania.

Wed., Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-021; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Philadelphia Up Close

Must-see Museums, Historic Sites, and Local Eats

Philadelphia comes to life in an online exploration led by art historian and longtime resident Jennie Hirsh. She guides participants through the city’s neighborhoods, major museums, and cultural landmarks, spotlighting essential works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation, as well as hidden gems like the Fabric Workshop and Museum, Calder Gardens, and the Brandywine Workshop and Archives.

Hirsh delves into key historic sites including the Liberty Bell Center, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, and the Museum of the American Revolution. The program also highlights the city’s dynamic food scene—from acclaimed chefs to street eats. Participants receive a handout outlining suggested sights and a sample itinerary for further exploration of Philadelphia’s art, history, and culture.

Thurs., Aug. 13, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-167; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

Great Censorship Cases in 20thCentury Literature

Several of the most extraordinary books of the 20th century had to overcome severe censorship challenges before they reached the public. D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover was banned by the United Kingdom and the United States from 1928 until the 1960s because of racy language and explicit sexual content. Copies of Joyce’s magnificent 1922 novel, Ulysses, had to be smuggled into the United States until late 1933, when an American court finally deemed it fit for publication. Allen Ginsberg’s long poem Howl had to endure an intense obscenity trial before it was finally declared not obscene in 1957.

Literary scholar Clay Jenkinson explores these dramatic incidents in the history of literary censorship to understand the cultural revolutions of the 20th century rather than merely scoring points against the censors.

Thurs., Aug. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-721; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Manuel de Falla at 150

Modernism, Mysticism, and the Musical Spirit of Spain

Marking the 150th anniversary of pivotal 20th-century Spanish composer Manuel de Falla's birth, popular speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin combines an illustrated lecture with live piano demonstrations to bring to life a slight, almost Chaplinesque figure whose music pulses with sensuality and spiritual intensity. Deeply sensitive, devout, and more than a little superstitious, de Falla transformed the evocative folk sounds of his native Andalusia into Modernist works of extraordinary color, wit, and drama.

From his roots in Cádiz, to Paris, where he collaborated with the revolutionary Ballets Russes, and finally into exile in Argentina, Franklin examines how de Falla forged his unique, seductive voice with such enchanting stage and concert pieces as El amor brujo, La vida breve, and Noches en los jardines de España

Tues., Aug. 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-722; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

What Do the Hindu Gods Look Like Now?

For many centuries Hinduism has had an image-making religious tradition. Hindus have long wished to see their deities in visible form, and artists have met this desire through sculptures and paintings. In modern India, this desire has also been met by colorful mass-produced “God-prints,” often called calendar prints or bazaar art.

Creative Spaces

The Places Where Books We Love Were Written

Richard Davis, professor emeritus of religion at Bard College, outlines the history of this genre of commercial religious art, from its origins in colonial Kolkata and Maharashtra through its proliferation in independent India. Davis also looks at how the depictions of principal Hindu gods have developed and changed.

Mon., Aug. 17, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-567; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

What makes a writer’s space so fascinating? Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s reflections on the importance of space for creativity, author Katie da Cunha Lewin examines how writers have worked everywhere from quiet garden rooms and shared family tables to bustling cafés and buses. She offers vivid portraits of memorable creative spaces, including Woolf’s tranquil room at Monk’s House, Ernest Hemingway’s Paris cafés, and Maya Angelou’s deliberately bare hotel rooms.

Da Cunha Lewin’s new book, The Writer’s Room: The Hidden Worlds That Shape the Books We Love (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Mon., Aug. 24, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-082; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Living

Steven M. Emmanuel, chair of the philosophy department at Virginia Wesleyan University, outlines how Buddhist teachings might shape the way to handle stress, conflict, work, family responsibilities, consumption, and difficult conversations. Bearing in mind that Buddhism is a diverse tradition, he draws on common themes such as mindfulness, compassion, non-harm, and non-attachment to explore strategies for living with greater awareness, patience, and care.

The goal is not to persuade individuals toward Buddhism but rather to consider what may be thoughtfully and usefully drawn from Buddhist ways of understanding and responding to meet the challenges of contemporary life.

Thurs., Aug. 27, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-724; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

The 10 Plagues, Then and Now

The Hudson Theatre

A Journey Through Broadway History

Join Tim Dolan, actor and owner of Broadway Up Close tours in New York City, as he steps into 1903 for an insider’s look at Broadway’s oldest playhouse, the historic Hudson Theatre. This online program traces a remarkable story through more than a century of careful restoration, near-demolition, and cultural significance. Explore the building’s hidden corners and architectural details, including its original design elements and the luminous work of Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Along the way, discover the vivid history that unfolded within its walls—from tales of tragedy and intrigue to unforgettable moments shaped by legendary figures in theater, music, and popular culture. Dolan brings the Hudson’s past and present to life, offering a rare glimpse into one of Broadway’s most storied stages.

Tues., Sept. 1, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-205; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Antonio Vivaldi

Revival of a Baroque Genius

People have told stories about disasters throughout the ages. One of the oldest such stories is that of the 10 plagues in the book of Exodus, the disasters that forced the Egyptians to liberate the Israelites. These plagues packed enough catastrophes to fill a series of summer blockbusters, including rivers of blood and smothering darkness. Religious studies scholar Steven Weitzman explores how artists, writers, activists, philosophers, believers, and unbelievers of later ages have reshaped the story to give expression to their trauma, outrage, guilt, humor, and hope.

Weitzman’s new book, Disasters of Biblical Proportions: The Ten Plagues Then, Now, and at the End of the World (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Wed., Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-083; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Antonio Vivaldi’s music is so beloved today that it’s surprising he was nearly forgotten for almost two centuries. In his lifetime, the fiery-haired virtuoso violinist and Catholic priest was admired for bold innovations in Baroque form, yet after his death much of the “Red Priest’s” work disappeared from performance.

A remarkable 20th-century rediscovery of his manuscripts revived his reputation and revealed the extraordinary breadth of his creativity. From the vivid musical storytelling of The Four Seasons to choral masterpieces like the Gloria and his hundreds of concertos and operas, Vivaldi’s legacy now defines the Baroque era.

In an illustrated lecture with live musical demonstrations, concert pianist Rachel Franklin explores his colorful life, groundbreaking style, and the dramatic comeback of his music.

Tues., Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-723; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing (1598–99) remains one of Shakespeare’s most beloved and frequently performed comedies, featuring such memorable characters as the witty, bickering Benedick and Beatrice and the more straightforward Hero and Claudio. Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, explores Shakespeare’s lyrical language, narrative techniques, and representations of love, honor, and marriage, among other key themes. Luzzi discusses how this riveting comedy fits into the broader arc of Shakespeare’s career as a playwright and focuses on the defining qualities and techniques that imbue it with such enduring appeal.

Tues., Sept. 8, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-571; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Shakespeare’s sonnets go deeply—with wisdom, sympathy, rage, and sly humor—into the heart of countless human struggles and joys, as readers have kept discovering for more than 400 years.

Through close readings of a dozen poems, prominent Shakespearean scholar and author Robert N. Watson of the University of California, Los Angeles examines nostalgia, depression, professional rivalry, solitary travel, biblical interpretation, heterosexual and homosexual desire, post-coital regret, the art of writing a better love letter, the etiquette of breaking up gently or sharply (or both), and the challenges of aging.

Thurs., Sept. 10, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-725; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Rediscovering Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr. was a prodigy in vaudeville, trailblazer in desegregating Las Vegas, and global superstar who shone on Hollywood and Broadway.

Performer and educator Aaron Reeder examines how Davis’s artistry intersected with questions of race, religion, and identity in 20th-century America and the contradictions of fame that defined his career.

Reeder explores Davis’ life and legacy through rare recordings, archival images, and performance excerpts. Through commentary and music, Reeder reveals the man behind the spotlight—a boundarybreaking artist whose call to authenticity, “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” continues to resonate today.

Tues., Sept. 15, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-573; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

“And Away We Go”

A Look Back at the Early Days of Television Comedy

The first decade of American TV comedy was an extraordinary period of innovation. The era from the late 1940s to the late 1950s produced a range of distinctive programming: live comedy and variety shows like Your Show of Shows, filmed sitcoms like I Love Lucy, and late-night talk programs like The Tonight Show. Pioneering performers and creators such as Sid Caesar, Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason, and Steve Allen helped shape a new visual language of comedy that influenced television for the next 60 years. As he shares dozens of clips, media historian Brian Rose examines why this era may have produced more laughter than any other period in television history.

Thurs., Sept. 17, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-575; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Outsider Animals

Finding New Appreciation for Shunned Creatures

Evolutionary biologist and writer Marlene Zuk highlights overlooked animals that live in proximity to humans, from raccoons and coyotes to gulls and cockroaches, revealing the insights they offer into cognition, behavior, adaptation, and cohabitation on a crowded planet.

She explains why these often shunned creatures teach us about relationships with other species, our place in nature, and what it means for an animal to belong somewhere.

Zuk explores how coyotes and snakes illuminate human coevolution with predators; cockroaches reveal the evolution of pregnancy; butterflies expose pollution’s effects; and cowbirds and mynas reshape thinking about invasive species. Zuk's book Outsider Animals (Princeton University Press) is available for purchase.

Tues., June 2, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-460; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Evolutionary Story of Human Sleep

What does evolution reveal about the way we sleep—and why do so many people struggle today? David R. Samson, associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at the University of Toronto, uncovers how our ancestors’ move from the safety of the forest canopy to more dangerous ground shaped the sleep patterns we follow today.

He examines how these informed the brain—supporting memory, creativity, and our capacity to thrive—and explores modern sleep challenges, illustrating how understanding this heritage can improve health and well-being.

His book The Sleepless Ape: The Story of Sleep in Human Evolution (Princeton University Press) is available for purchase.

Thurs., June 11, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-157; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

These programs are part of Smithsonian

The Smithsonian in the Arctic More Than a Century and a Half of Collecting, Research, and Exhibition

Spencer Baird, the second Secretary of the Smithsonian, dispatched naturalist Edward W. Nelson to the wilds of Alaska for four years (1877-1881), where he became known as “the man who collects good-for-nothing things.” Those things are now among the treasures of the Smithsonian’s anthropology collection, including ivory carvings, ceremonial masks, kayaks, and songs. The Smithsonian also sent scores of other naturalists and scientists to Labrador, Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and Siberia to document Arctic cultures in the circumpolar region.

The Smithsonian’s Arctic Studies Center continues this legacy by conducting research throughout the Arctic in collaboration with Indigenous communities. Director William Fitzhugh discusses how Nelson’s research laid the foundation for 150 years of natural history and anthropological studies, as well as exhibits and public programs.

Mon., June 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-072; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Sunlight Symphonies

The reasons behind why the daytime sky is blue, what causes a rainbow, and the creation of a halo around the moon or sun all involve how sunlight interacts with the Earth’s atmosphere.

J. Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, unveils a score of atmospheric phenomena that you can see in a daytime sky, from sun pillars at dawn to the Belt of Venus at dusk.

Thurs., June 18, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-559; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Darwin: A Biography

Charles Darwin reshaped the Victorian world, and his life mirrors the sweeping transformations of the 19th century. His theory of evolution, emerging amid empire and industrial capitalism, revolutionized science and influenced literature, art, philosophy, religion, and politics.

Historian and author Janet

Browne follows Darwin from his voyage on the HMS Beagle to his rise as a scientific celebrity after On the Origin of Species. Using letters and archival material, she demonstrates how one naturalist forever changed the way life on Earth is understood.

Browne’s newest book, Darwin: A Biography (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Tues., June 23, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-158; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Climate History of Earth

Time-travel with atmospheric scientist Edward Graham as he leads a 4.6-billion-year journey through the climate history of Earth. Starting in the Precambrian, he employs the fundamentals of geology to determine the age of the most ancient rocks on early Earth and what they reveal about its environments, which he describes as distinctly alien.

He fast-forwards through various geological epochs, discovering how the eventual blossoming of life helped to regulate Earth’s atmosphere, increasing its oxygen content and making the sky blue. He also considers the important lessons from a study of past Earth climate to understand the escalating climate crisis of the Anthropocene.

Fri., June 26, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-701; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

A Geologic Tour of Iceland

Explore the spectacular geology and scenery of Iceland in a virtual field trip led by Kirt Kempter, who has led more than 30 tours to the country. He discusses the geologic origin and development of Iceland and how the coincidence of a hot spot and a plate boundary has brought Iceland above sea level over the past 15 million years.

The volcanic awakening of the Reykjanes Peninsula, starting in March 2021, has signaled a new chapter of volcanic activity in Iceland, less than 31 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik. Kempter examines this activity along with other famous volcanoes and eruptions in Iceland since human settlement.

Mon., June 29, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-193; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Birding in Costa Rica

Naturalist and photographer Matt Felperin leads a visual exploration of Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands, foothills, and highland cloud forests, spanning the lush river corridors of Sarapiquí to the mist-laden peaks of the Talamanca Mountains. Traversing forest trails, river edges, and moss-draped ridgelines, Felperin documents the remarkable avian variety of these globally significant biodiversity hotspots. Along the way, encounter trogons, tanagers, hummingbirds, and toucans; observe mixed-species feeding flocks and high-elevation natives; and gain insight into the elusive species that help define one of the richest bird habitats on Earth. Interwoven with field observations and narrative accounts from the rainforest, Felperin offers both a vivid visual record and an informed perspective on the ecological complexity of tropical bird communities.

Tues., July 7, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-195; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Safaris Off the Beaten Track

Safari destinations like Kenya, Tanzania, and Botswana have long stood at the center of African travel. Yet conservation pioneers and local communities elsewhere are quietly opening remote regions where wildlife thrives in solitude and timeless landscapes remain untouched by mass tourism.

The New Space Age

Ambition, Illusion, and the Future of Humanity

We are told, says philosopher Ben Bramble, that humanity’s destiny lies beyond Earth with the promise of cities on Mars, asteroid mining, lunar industries, and even “backup planets” to secure our survival. But is becoming a multiplanetary species the wisest path forward?

Bramble, a mission specialist for the Australian National University’s Institute for Space, argues that many of the visions of the New Space Age rest on confusion about risk, progress, and what makes a human future genuinely good. If we care about humanity’s long-term flourishing, he suggests we should look less to Mars—and more carefully at Earth.

His new book, Lunacy: Ten False Promises of the New Space Age (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Wed., July 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-016; Members $20, Nonmembers $30

Wilderness guide Russell Gammon leads an immersive exploration of two of Africa’s most rewarding but least-visited safari destinations: Zambia and Uganda. Gammon shares the wonder of sitting quietly among a family of mountain gorillas, listening to chimpanzees call through the forest at dawn, and moving through landscapes where primates, predators, and scenery converge in a tapestry of biodiversity. Through storytelling, decades of firsthand experience, and ecological insights, he reveals why these countries are emerging as part of the future of conservationfocused travel.

Sat., July 11, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-561; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

The World of Fungi: An Introduction

With more than 170,000 described species—and countless more to be discovered—the kingdom Fungi is one of the most astonishing branches of the tree of life. Today mycology, the study of fungi, is enjoying a surge of popular attention, captivating foragers and food lovers, scientists and artists, and naturalists of all ages and experience levels.

Though fungi can seem mysterious and even bewildering, mycologist David Hibbett illuminates their remarkable variety and explains what fungi are, how they live and grow, and the ways they shape the ecosystems around us. He uncovers the surprising roles fungi have played in human cultures across time—from food and fermentation to medicine and myth. Hibbett provides helpful context and resources to deepen an understanding and appreciation of this extraordinary and often-hidden world.

Tues., July 21, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-199; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Using the Past to Look Forward

From the country’s earliest days, Americans’ survival, economy, and cultural development have been deeply tied to the natural environment. Thus, in an era of rapid environmental change, it has become vital to better understand the world around us and protect it for future generations.

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is a world leader in science that connects people and ecosystems. William “Monty” Graham, the new director of SERC, discusses the center’s work, beginning with a look at how Americans used the land and its resources 250 years ago. With a combination of knowledge from the past and innovative technology, Graham says, Smithsonian scientists can peer into the future for a glimpse at what it holds for the United States’ environment.

Wed., July 22, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-079; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland

Chandra, a Space Telescope with X-ray Vision

On July 23, 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory into an orbit that takes it about a third of the way to the moon. Since then, Chandra—operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory—has sent back to Earth images of the spectacular, glowing remains of exploded stars, found black holes across the universe, and contributed to the study of both dark matter and dark energy.

Panelists:

A panel of experts from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Northrop Grumman takes you behind the scenes at the observatory to see how engineers operate one of the most powerful space telescopes ever built. Learn how X-ray astronomy reveals an otherwise invisible, high-energy universe and why Chandra remains essential.

The panel also delves into the origins of X-ray astronomy in the United States, tracing its roots to pioneering rocket experiments in the 1960s and the Nobel Prize–winning discovery of cosmic X-ray sources by astrophysicist Riccardo Giacconi, who spent many years at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. That spirit of innovation launched a new branch of astronomy and helped establish U.S. leadership in high-energy astrophysics.

Rodolfo Montez Jr., astrophysicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Scott Wolk, senior astrophysicist and flight director, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Julia Zachary, Chandra Flight Mission planning lead, Northrop Grumman

Moderator:

Kimberly Arcand, Chandra visualization scientist and communications lead, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Tues., Aug. 25, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-085; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Listening to Our Bodies

With Giulia Enders

Discover how listening more closely to our bodies can shift our understanding of health, connection, and happiness. Giulia Enders, physician and star of Netflix’s Hack Your Health, explores the extraordinary intelligence within our bodies. Tapping thousands of years of biological ingenuity and the latest scientific insights, Enders examines what our immune system can teach us about security, how wound healing mirrors emotional recovery, and what our bodies show us about what we truly need to thrive.

The Beasts of the East

The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness

Before skyscrapers and industry reshaped the eastern United States, it teemed with wildlife: elk, bison, and wolves and cougars moving through prairies, forests, and wetlands. Environmental writer Andrew Moore explores this forgotten landscape and the decline that followed as industrialization and unregulated hunting pushed many species toward extinction.

He follows conservationists, biologists, hunters, and communities working to restore these animals to their native habitats—from bison on Illinois prairies to elk in Kentucky and red wolves in coastal North Carolina—and examines what their comeback means for conservation, coexistence, and the idea of wilderness in a modern, human-shaped world.

Enders’ new book, Organ Speak: What It Really Means to Listen to Our Bodies (HarperOne), is available for purchase.

Thurs., Aug 13, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-084; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

His book The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness (HarperCollins) is available for purchase.

Tues., Aug. 18, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-204; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Lunar A History of the Moon in Myths, Maps, and Matter

The moon has shaped human imagination since long before written history, inspiring art, artifacts, and writing across cultures. Even as modern science has revealed its geology through robotic and crewed missions, it continues to captivate artists, writers, and dreamers.

Matthew Shindell, curator of earth and planetary science at the National Air and Space Museum, traces humanity’s evolving understanding of Earth’s natural satellite. He follows the moon’s presence from ancient carvings and cave paintings to medieval Christian cosmology, early fictional lunar voyages to contemporary cinema, and from the Apollo landings to today’s scientific exploration and future mission planning.

Shindell is the editor of Lunar: A History of the Moon in Myths, Maps, and Matter (University of Chicago Press), which is available for purchase.

Thurs., Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-024; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

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Beyond Inheritance

Understanding DNA, Mutation, and Human Health

DNA is a lifelong instruction manual that constantly changes, says science writer Roxanne Khamsi. From conception onward, mutations accumulate in every cell.

Drawing on her new book, Beyond Inheritance, Khamsi argues that bodies are dynamic genetic ecosystems where evolution unfolds continuously. These mutations can harm—such as when altered blood cells raise heart attack risk—but they can also strengthen. Liver cells with advantageous mutations handle excess calories better, and immune cells rework their DNA to craft stronger antibodies.

Khamsi highlights discoveries showing how genetic variation shapes health, immunity, and aging, challenging the belief that all cells share identical DNA and revealing how this insight is reshaping medicine, from vaccines to cancer care.

Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health (Riverhead Books) is available for purchase.

Mon, Aug. 24, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-169; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Whale Migration and Ocean Conservation

Protecting the Paths of Giants

Whales make some of the longest migrations on Earth, traveling thousands of miles round-trip annually. They follow routes that connect critical feeding and breeding habitats across the globe, linking distant ecosystems into a single living ocean. Marine biologist Amanda Hunter considers whale migration and ocean conservation and examines the growing threats whales face— from climate-driven shifts in food availability to ship traffic and ocean pollution. Hunter also highlights conservation solutions that are making a difference and uncovers the surprising ways whales help regulate ocean health and climate.

Thurs., Aug. 27, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-568; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Auroras: Nature’s Light Show

Humans have watched displays of the Northern Lights in awe for centuries. Some cultures thought these colorful curtains of light arose as sparks created by the tail of an Arctic fox or from epic battles in the night sky. The Sámi of northernmost Europe call it “the light you can hear.” But, as Sky & Telescope senior editor J. Kelly Beatty explains, only recently have scientists been able to fully understand how and why auroras exist. He explores the fanciful explanations for these dancing lights, how powerful bursts from the sun create them, and when and where you’re most likely to see an auroral display.

Mon., Aug. 31, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-569; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

You love art.

Now become the expert you’ve always wanted to be.

World Art H i story Certif icate Prog ram

Art is all around us. It excites us, enriches our lives, and enlivens our imaginations. But to truly appreciate any work of art, we need to understand the context and culture in which it was produced. That’s why Smithsonian Associates offers an exciting World Art History Certificate Program.

The wide-ranging offerings are designed to provide a global perspective on art and architecture and draw on the Smithsonian’s world-class collections, the rich resources of other Washington institutions, and noted national and international museums.

The core courses and electives in this program are selected from among Smithsonian Associates’ ongoing courses, seminars, study tours, and Studio Arts classes. You’ll find an expanded roster of instructors and a new range of course topics.

Complete the program requirements at your own pace and track your credits online. Credits are counted from the day of program registration and are not given retroactively.

To learn more about the Smithsonian Associates World Art History Certificate Program, visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/ArtCertificate

*from Smithsonian museum collections

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Le Marche: An Italian Region to Discover

Treasures of History, Art, and Culture

Art historian Sophia D’Addio of Columbia University, an expert in Italian Renaissance art and architecture, has traveled widely across the Italian peninsula over the past 20 years. In an illustrated talk, she explores Le Marche, along the Adriatic east of Umbria. The region features beaches, Apennine peaks, and rolling hills with towns. Urbino, Raphael’s hometown, shines as an artistic hub, while Loreto has drawn pilgrims since the 14th century. Beyond these marvels, D’Addio highlights more off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Tues., June 9, 6:30–8:15 p.m.; CODE 1M2-453; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit each

Salon Societies

The Women Who Shaped Modern Art

Long before modern art found its home in museums, it thrived in salons, collections, and networks cultivated by women. In avant-garde circles in early 20th-century New York, these women nurtured artists, championed emerging talent, and shaped the tastes that defined modern culture.

Art historian Jennie Hirsh highlights the salonnières and patrons whose influence extended far beyond the studio or gallery.

JUNE 4 Katherine Dreier, Florine Stettheimer, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney

JULY 9 Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Lillie P. Bliss, Peggy Guggenheim

Individual sessions: Thurs., June 4 (CODE 1D0-161B); Thurs., July 9 (CODE 1D0-161C); 12 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Creative Writing Workshop

Write Into Art

Creative Writing Inspired by Visual Art

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s Writing Salon, leads workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts.

The sessions spotlight a wide range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. Each workshop has a limited enrollment to maximize interaction among the instructor and students.

JUL 7 Dialogue: Spoken and Unspoken

JUL 14 Impact: Tone and Mood

JUL 21 Memoir: Setting and Identity

3-session series: Tues., July 7, 14, and 21, 10 a.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-705; Members $105; Nonmembers $125

Individual sessions: Tues., July 7 (CODE 1K0-706); Tues., July 14 (CODE 1K0-707); Tues., July 21 (CODE 1K0-708); 10 a.m.; Members $40; Nonmembers $50

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Black Arts Movement

Spend a day with Michele L. Simms-Burton, scholar of African American and Africana studies, exploring the Black Arts Movement in the United States. Study the post–World War II historic moments and cultural events that fostered an emergent Black aesthetic. Encounter artists, composers, musicians and writers from rural and urban areas and learn how their lives and experiences informed their artistic achievements.

Sat., June 6, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-554; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

Secrets and Symbols in Art

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit for each

The study of iconography—how symbols and allegories function in art—offers a way to understand masterpieces that have puzzled scholars for generations. In a series of programs, art historian Noah Charney reveals how decoding these visual cues can transform the way viewers interpret pre-modern Western art—turning enigmatic images into eloquent narratives.

The Iconography of Saints

Saints are present in so many works of art. But how did medieval viewers know which saint was being depicted, when most couldn’t read? Charney explores the use of saints and their associative meaning in paintings created during the period. By recognizing attributes linked to a saint’s martyrdom—such as Saint Lucy’s eyes on a platter or Saint Peter’s upside-down cross—viewers could identify which saint they were seeing and why. Charney teaches the art of identifying key saints and reading religious paintings like a detective. Using Carlo Crivelli’s Demidoff Altarpiece as his guide, he explores the meanings behind the faces and attributes of these artistic tropes.

Mon., June 8, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-912; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Biblical Puzzle Pictures

Certain paintings in religious art were designed as visual puzzles that draw in the viewer and reward careful decoding. Charney pieces together some of the hidden mysteries, choosing Our Lady of the Dry Tree by Petrus Christus as an opening riddle packed with symbolic clues, then dives into Crivelli’s The Annunciation, with Saint Emidius, bursting with political and theological references. The session concludes with Velázquez’s layered kitchen scene Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, prompting questions like: Why a bowl of fish? What is the significance of the background image? One of the selected works even contains a hidden recipe ready for home cooks to try.

Mon., Aug. 3, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-917; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

Art-full Fridays | Live from Italy, with Elaine Ruffolo

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Elaine Ruffolo, a Florence-based Renaissance art historian, examines the rich heritage of Italian art and architecture

The Medici Villas: Power and Place

The Medici family ruled Florence for centuries and profoundly influenced European culture. Their patronage of both art and science fostered new architectural styles and introduced the ideal of villa life—residences designed for harmony with nature and intellectual leisure.

These villas became centers of recreation, scholarship, experimentation, business, and romance, each reflecting the Medici’s political ambitions and cultural ideals. Ruffolo examines how the family’s public works and private desires shaped these architectural spaces, tracing developments from medieval forms to Mannerist innovation, where aesthetics, creativity, and power converged.

MARCH/APRIL 2026

Fri., June 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-155; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Grant Wood

The Man Behind American Gothic

Grant Wood, famed for one of America’s most iconic paintings, was far more intricate than his public image suggested. Though he styled himself a “farmer painter,” his creativity was shaped less by agriculture than by artistic community, family entanglements, and a carefully crafted persona.

Art historian R. Tripp Evans uncovers Wood’s formative Iowa years and his intense relationships with his mother and sister Nan, a model for American Gothic. He also examines how Wood’s closeted homosexuality energized his art and imperiled his career. Drawing on autobiographical fragments, documents, and paintings, Evans reveals the private tensions that gave Wood’s Regionalism its emotional force.

Wed., June 10, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-159; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Smithsonian Museums

Tracing the Arc of American Architecture

The Smithsonian Institution has shaped the character of the National Mall since 1855. Washington’s beloved museums trace the arc of American architecture, from James Renwick’s Gothic design of the Smithsonian Castle to the contemporary National Museum of African American History and Culture designed by a collaborative team led by David Adjaye, Philip Freelon, and J. Max Bond Jr. Romanesque to Victorian, Neoclassical to Brutalist, each unique building is an architectural study all its own.

Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, investigates the style, design, controversy, construction, and fascinating backstories behind these celebrated museums.

Wed., June 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-191; Members $25; Nonmembers $35; Related program: Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn, p. 56

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit American Realism

The term American Realism most often refers to the Ashcan School, a group led by Robert Henri that depicted the gritty realities of New York City at the turn of the 20th century. But the term “realism” may also be applied to the work of artists like John Singleton Copley in the colonial era, trompe-l’oeil still-life painters like Rembrandt Peale and William Harnett, and artists such as Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, and John Singer Sargent in the 19th century. The word has also been applied to later movements in painting, such as Socialist Realism and Photo-Realism. Art historian Heidi Applegate traces the movement’s origins in literature and helps differentiate the various uses of “Realist” and “Realism” throughout the history of art.

Fri., June 12, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-910; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Transformed and Deformed: The Prints of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) is often regarded as the last ukiyo-e artist, working across the transition between the feudal Edo period (1603-1868) and the Westernization of Japan in the Meiji era (1868-1912). Yoshitoshi is known as an artist of the macabre, with his chimidoro-e (“blood-covered pictures”) and grotesque imagery seemingly related to his history of mental health issues. However, this ghoulish reputation can obscure the important contributions he made to the development of new artistic genres and the sensitive turn that his supernatural imagery took toward the end of his life. Kit Brooks, curator of Asian art at the Princeton University Art Museum, explores Yoshitoshi’s career, examining what makes his art—and life—so haunting.

Thurs., June 11, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-557; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Europe 1900

The Golden Ages of Vienna, Paris, and London

The year 1900 found three of Europe’s greatest cities entering defining eras in their historical and cultural development. In a richly illustrated seminar, cultural historian George Scheper, a senior lecturer in advanced academic programs at Johns Hopkins University, explores how the alignment of creative forces shaped a trio of highly distinctive urban milieus—Vienna, Paris, and London—each nourished by the energy and excitement of new ideas and each witnessing the birth of modernism in the coming century.

Sat., June 13, 10 a.m.–3:15 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-461; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Lesser-Known Museums and Churches of Italy

In this ongoing series, Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero spotlights the significant collections of sometimes-overlooked museums and churches throughout Italy.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit for each

Naples National Archaeological Museum

Home to extraordinary finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Naples National Archaeological Museum offers a glimpse into the ancient Roman world. Ruggiero introduces some of the museum’s most compelling treasures, from breathtaking mosaics and monumental sculptures to everyday objects that reveal how Romans lived, worked, and found pleasure nearly 2,000 years ago.

Mon., June 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-555; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Related program: Herculaneum and Pompeii, p. 4

Church of San Sebastiano

“Ares and Aphrodite” (detail) marble relief, second half of the 5th century

Founded by the hermit monks of San Girolamo in 1396 in Venice, the Church of San Sebastiano can be described as Venetian artist Paolo Veronese’s “Sistine Chapel.” The church houses a cycle of paintings that are the most important works Veronese created. Other notable works found in the church and sacristy include Titian’s St. Nicholas and works by Paris Bordone, Jacopo Sansovino, Palma il Giovane, Alessandro Vittoria, Jacopo Tintoretto, and Bonifacio de’ Pitati. Ruggiero discusses the significance of Veronese’s paintings and highlights other noteworthy works in the church.

Mon., July 13, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-562; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

In the historic center of Milan, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana houses one of Italy’s most historically significant art collections. Founded in 1618 by humanist Federico Borromeo, the museum preserves masterpieces from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Among its highlights are paintings by Leonardo da Vinci as well as works by Caravaggio, Botticelli, Titian, and Raphael, including Raphael’s monumental preparatory drawing for The School of Athens. Ruggiero explores the museum’s history and the masterpieces that make it a cornerstone of Milan’s artistic heritage.

Wed., Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-570; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena

Detail of the preparatory drawing by Raphael for The School of Athens

In the heart of Siena, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena preserves an extensive collection of paintings from the Sienese school, spanning the 13th to the 17th centuries. The museum traces the evolution of Sienese painting from the luminous gold-ground panels of its medieval origins, through the achievements of the Renaissance and Mannerist periods, and into the artistic developments of the 17th century. Ruggiero examines the significance of this collection and the enduring legacy of Siena’s artistic tradition.

Mon., Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-572; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit

Art and Kingship in Southeast Asia

Strategically located for trade, rich in resources, and containing a variety of cultural traditions, the civilizations of mainland and island Southeast Asia are among the most dynamic in the world. Art historian Robert DeCaroli examines the cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Southeast Asia from the earliest archaeological evidence to the onset of colonialism, with a focus on the royal arts of the great civilizations that arose within the borders of modern Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar), and Thailand.

4-session series: Tues., June 16–July 7, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-558; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

African Art and Aesthetics

Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar offers an overview of African art, outlining key aesthetic concepts such as the flexed-knee motif and themes of maternity and fertility. He examines a wide range of mask styles in materials like wood, ivory, and bronze, emphasizing their expressive and abstract qualities. Cassar also addresses the challenges of studying African art, including the continent’s cultural and linguistic variety, the assorted terminology often applied to its artistic traditions, and the difficulty of interpreting works without full contextual knowledge. Drawing on a decade of research in Africa, he traces the influence of African art on modern European artists.

Wed., June 17, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-699; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

William Blake: Poet and Painter

William Blake, one of the most prolific artists and poets of the Romantic period, united painting and poetry most effectively in his “illuminated books.” Recalling medieval illuminated manuscripts, these richly illustrated volumes allowed Blake to address major themes such as religious hypocrisy, poverty, inequality, and human existence.

Blake’s books represented the marriage of painting and poetry through carefully etched poems and accompanying images. His best-known works are Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, illustrated collections of lyric poems that were combined into one volume in 1794. Although Blake frequently turned to the Christian Bible for inspiration, his poetry and works of art reflect his own personal visions. Art historian David Gariff offers insights into Blake’s achievements as both poet and artist.

Sun., June 21, 3 p.m.; CODE 1H0-911; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Andrew Wyeth: An Appreciation

Andrew Wyeth, a leading 20th-century American realist, drew lifelong inspiration from the rural worlds of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and Cushing, Maine. Trained at home by his illustrator father, N.C. Wyeth, he embraced his own path by using tempera, creating austere, contemplative works such as Christina’s World

Though labeled a realist, he viewed himself as an abstractionist, stripping away detail to reveal emotional truth. His output spans drawings, watercolors, drybrush, and tempera, depicting landscapes, still lifes, and local people with empathy. Art historian Bonita Billman highlights a range of works from Wyeth’s extraordinary oeuvre.

Mon., June 22, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-463; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Fra Angelico: Painting Heaven on Earth

At the turn of the 15th century, Guido di Pietro, later known as Fra Angelico, lived a quiet life of devotion in the hills above Florence. Among his Dominican brothers, he carried out the work of illuminating religious manuscripts and, later, painting fresco.

But when Cosimo de Medici established himself as the patron of a new Dominican community in the 1430s, Fra Angelico was given the opportunity to transform the stark walls, monastic cells, and corridors of the priory of San Marco into spaces of contemplation through frescoes both otherworldly and deeply human.

Art historian Laura Morelli explores the unique convergence of talent, faith, and patronage that made Fra Angelico a master of devotional painting—and thrust him from cloistered solitude into the vibrant artistic life of Renaissance Florence.

Fri., June 26, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-909; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Art and Fiction

A picture is not only worth a thousand words: It can sometimes inspire a whole invented world. Independent art historian Heidi Applegate explores the art and artists behind three works of historical fiction by contemporary authors.

Gain new perspectives on the works of Johannes Vermeer, Leonardo da Vinci, and Henri Matisse by delving into the novels followed by Applegate’s examination of the factual background along with the fiction. It’s a “novel” way to explore the arts.

3-session series: Wed., July 8, Aug. 12, and Sept. 9, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1H0-916; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Louis Comfort Tiffany: In Pursuit of Beauty

The late-19th and early-20th centuries were a time of extraordinary creativity in the arts, as New York City emerged as a global center of innovation and design. Among the leading figures of this era was Louis Comfort Tiffany, whose spectacular stained-glass windows, lamps, vases, and elegant home furnishings transformed decorative arts into coveted works of fine art.

In his several studios, Tiffany pursued what he called a lifelong “pursuit of beauty,” experimenting boldly with color, light, and new glassmaking techniques. His designs—at once opulent and organic—captured the spirit of the Gilded Age and the Art Nouveau movement while redefining the relationship between art and everyday life.

Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton, herself a collector of Tiffany lamps, explores Tiffany’s fascinating life, artistic vision, and why his radiant creations continue to enchant today.

Tues., July 14, 7 p.m.; CODE 1D0-163; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Wright Women

An Architect’s Personal World

From his strong-willed mother to his artistic sister, and from the devoted wife who raised his first six children to the client’s wife he ultimately left her for, Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal story can be told through the women he loved and the homes he built for them. Signature works such as the Winslow House, the Prairie-era homes of Oak Park, and Taliesin itself reflect these relationships, serving as laboratories for Wright’s ideas about family life, artistic partnership, and the integration of architecture and landscape.

Seen through this lens, Wright’s buildings become deeply personal expressions as well as milestones in the development of modern American architecture. Master storyteller Timothy Totten shines a sympathetic light on the women who played influential roles in the story of Wright’s life and work.

Wed., July 15, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-197; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Modern American Architecture

By the mid-20th century, architects in the United States were redefining the modern city, transforming how people live, work, and experience space. They developed a distinctive vocabulary of modern and postmodern design, experimenting with new forms, materials, and structural ideas that influenced architects and artists worldwide.

Art historian Jennie Hirsh examines both celebrated and lesser-known projects— residences, office buildings, theaters, civic spaces, and campus structures—tracing the innovations and vision of architects such as Louis Kahn, Philip Johnson, Denise Scott Brown, I.M. Pei, and Eero Saarinen.

Through examples in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and beyond, Hirsh explores how these practitioners balanced functionality, elegance, and human scale, ultimately reshaping American architecture and leaving a legacy that continues to inspire the built environment today.

Wed., July 29, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-165; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater

Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is one of the most celebrated achievements of 20th-century architecture and a supreme example of his philosophy of organic design—the belief that buildings should grow naturally from their surroundings. Completed in 1939 as a mountain retreat for the Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh, the house dramatically embodies this idea, with bold cantilevered terraces extending over a rushing waterfall in the wooded hills of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Constructed of native stone and warm-toned concrete that echoes the surrounding landscape, Fallingwater blurs the boundary between indoors and outdoors through open terraces, expansive windows, and the constant presence of the stream below. It’s also unique among Wright’s major works in that its setting, original furnishings, and artwork remain largely intact, preserving the architect’s complete vision.

Historian and architecture lecturer Bill Keene leads a beautifully illustrated virtual exploration of this landmark house, examining its design and construction and the personalities behind its creation. Whether you have visited Fallingwater or hope to see it someday, come away with a deeper appreciation of this remarkable work and the ideas that shaped it.

Tues., Aug. 11, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-202; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Art of the Etruscans

The Etruscans hold a reputation for mystery, but we actually know a lot about these creative ancient Italians and their remarkable contributions to the history of art. Contemporaries of the ancient Greeks and Romans, the Etruscans maintained a distinctive language and visual culture.

Art historian and author Laura Morelli explores this culture using samples of masterworks of Etruscan painting, sculpture, and metalwork. She examines how the Etruscans adorned the places where they planned to spend eternity and the incredible luxury objects they took with them.

Morelli delves into what makes Etruscan culture unique in the Mediterranean world; how to appreciate the hallmarks of its visual art; and why Etruscan archaeology is among the most vibrant fields of study today.

Fri., July 17, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-913; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Bridges of Washington, DC

Architect and owner of DC Design Tours Carolyn Muraskin explores the rich engineering, architectural, and cultural history of Washington, D.C.’s most significant bridges. Trace how these myriad structures have shaped movement, commerce, and identity in the nation’s capital from the 19th-century Aqueduct Bridge—once a vital link between Georgetown and Virginia—to today’s well-traveled Francis Scott Key Bridge and the historic Dumbarton and Chain bridges.

Muraskin examines how designers responded to the challenges of spanning the Potomac River and Rock Creek, highlighting innovations in materials, structural systems, and aesthetic ideals. These crossings reveal a layered narrative of urban growth, transportation planning, and civic ambition, offering insight into their roles as both feats of engineering and enduring symbols of Washington’s evolving landscape.

Thurs., July 23, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-200; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Paul Cézanne and the Art of Seeing

Paul Cézanne broke from artistic tradition through a radically new way of seeing, transforming ordinary objects into subjects of wonder. Though he paved the way for the 20th-century avant-garde, he remained deeply engaged with the art of the Old Masters. Like many artists of his era, he sought to capture fleeting visual impressions, yet his focus on solid forms, broad planes of color and light, and shifting viewpoints set him apart from the Impressionists. Even as his work moved toward abstraction, Cézanne stayed rooted in the observable world, exploring how perception unfolds over time.

In a full-day seminar, art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine examines how his groundbreaking approach—balancing tradition and innovation—allowed him to forge an entirely new mode of representing reality.

Fri., July 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-719; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Ancient Egypt Through its Art and Architecture

The secret to understanding the daily life and culture of ancient Egypt under its great rulers and pharaohs is right before our eyes—in its art and architecture. Examinations of these vast treasures reveal how they influenced Egyptian cultural identity and how religion shaped artistic production.

During this full-day seminar, Jacquelyn Williamson, a specialist in Egypt and an associate professor of ancient art and archeology at George Mason University, draws on evidence from the most recent archaeological discoveries to survey the social and historical realities of this civilization from its early pyramids through its art created under King Akhenaten, who upended centuries of tradition to create new artistic conventions.

Sat., July 25, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-466; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Friendship by the Sea: Avery, Gottlieb, and Rothko

Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, and Mark Rothko’s shared summers in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in the 1930s and 1940s had a lasting impact on the work of these three pivotal 20th-century American artists. Featuring 82 works from 26 collections, the Cape Ann Museum and The Phillips Collection present “Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea,” a new exhibition that explores their bond.

Eliza Rathbone, chief curator emerita of The Phillips Collection, talks with Cape Ann Museum director Oliver Barker about the impact of Gloucester’s coastal landscape on the three artists and shares behind-the-scenes details about the exhibition. “Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea” is on view at the Cape Ann Museum June 30–Sept. 27 and at The Phillips Collection Oct. 24–Jan. 24, 2027.

Mon., July 27, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-018; Members $20; Nonmembers $30 No.

by

Rothko, 1949

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit

The Art of the Italian Renaissance Form, Function, and Experience

During the Italian Renaissance, works of art could serve many functions. From sacred paintings to refined portraits of the elite to the funerary monuments of rulers, each form was designed to serve a specific purpose and to elicit a certain type of response in its viewers. Architectural structures were also designed to convey similar ideas and to shape visitors’ experiences.

Art historian Sophia D’Addio introduces the visual culture of the 14th through 16th centuries in programs covering a range of images, objects, and structures. She examines some of the most influential and fascinating works of the period, exploring their formal innovations and the relationships between powerful patrons and skilled artists that resulted in their creation.

5-session series: Tues., July 28–Aug. 25, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-467; Members $110; Nonmembers $135

Lamentation by Giotto, 1305

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Surrealism

Celebrating a Global Phenomenon

In 1924 the French writer André Breton composed the first of several manifestos outlining a radical new approach to literature, painting, sculpture, film, and other forms: Artists should draw their inspiration from dreams and the unconscious rather than academic training and rational thought. Christened Surrealism, it dominated avant-garde European and American art during the late 1920s and ’30s, as seen in the work of such prominent figures as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Max Ernst, Frida Kahlo, and Dorothea Tanning. Museums celebrated the movement’s centenary with a raft of major exhibitions throughout Europe, the U.S., and as far afield as China.

Art historian Nancy G. Heller traces the evolution and influence of Surrealism from its beginnings in Europe through the first quarter of the 21st century.

Thurs., July 30, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-468; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Vermeer’s Afterlives

Johannes Vermeer, now hailed as a master of the Dutch Golden Age, spent more than a century in obscurity before his rediscovery in the 1860s. Literary scholar Ruth Bernard Yeazell draws on her book Vermeer’s Afterlives to recount how French journalist and critic Théophile Thoré revived interest in the painter, revealing his luminous interiors, subtle light, and intimate domestic scenes to modern audiences.

Yeazell traces the critics, historians, and artists who helped elevate Vermeer into the artistic canon, examines why his quiet, introspective works continue to captivate viewers, explores the variety of ways in which Vermeer’s art has been interpreted through the centuries, and shows how his paintings take on afterlives of their own in the imaginations of viewers.

Vermeer’s Afterlives (Princeton University Press) is available for purchase.

Tues., Aug. 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-201; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Renoir: The Gift of Joy

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, celebrated as a founding member of the Impressionists, is also hailed by modern Realists for his painterly technique and happy subjects. Renoir’s work reflected one central tenet: “To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty. …There are too many ugly things in life as it is without creating still more of them.” No stonebreakers or railway stations for him.

He reveled in lush color that can be seen in sensual nudes, family portraits, landscapes, and genre depictions such as Luncheon of the Boating Party. Art historian Bonita Billman showcases selections from Renoir’s prolific oeuvre of more than 4,000 works as she illustrates why he is one of the most highly regarded artists of his time.

Thurs., Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-469; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Manet and Morisot:

A Closer Look

The special connection between French painters Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot is legendary in the art history canon. As the “painter of modern life,” Manet quoted from masterworks of the past to critique and update the academic system for the emerging modern era. A founding member of the Impressionist group, Morisot also broke boundaries, as the only woman to exhibit in the paradigm-changing first Impressionist exhibition in 1874 and as a prolific painter who left a legacy of hundreds of works.

With the current “Manet & Morisot” exhibition in mind, art historian Matthew Palczynski unpacks their mutual admiration, from their first documented encounter at the Louvre in 1868 to their 15-year artistic and personal relationship.

Fri., Aug. 7, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-920; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Art of the Augustan

Age Power and Propaganda in the Early Roman Empire

When Octavian received the title Augustus from the Roman Senate in 27 B.C.E., he inaugurated a new political order known as the Principate. The shift marked the beginning of an era defined by stability, cultural renewal, and the calculated use of imagery to legitimize imperial rule.

Art historian Renee Gondek discusses how art and architecture shaped and communicated the emerging identity of the Augustan era. She examines Augustus’ coordinated visual strategy—from idealized portrait types like the “Augustus of Prima Porta” statue to monumental public works including the Forum of Augustus, each designed to project themes of peace, piety, and restored tradition in the wake of civil war.

Fri., Aug. 14, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-080; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Washington’s Monumental Core, Part 2

The Evolution of the National Mall

Over nearly 250 years, the National Mall has become the symbolic heart of Washington, D.C., envisioned by the founders as a grand democratic stage expressing the ideals of the new republic through landscape, architecture, and monuments. In the second program of a two-part series, Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, traces the Mall’s post–World War II evolution as it grew into a space for remembrance, activism, and broader historical storytelling.

Beginning with Maya Lin’s groundbreaking Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designers moved away from traditional heroic forms toward intimate, reflective experiences. Muraskin explores how subsequent memorials continue to expand the narratives represented on the Mall, reflecting an increasingly complex and inclusive American story.

Thurs., Aug. 13, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-203; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Byzantine Art

Art historian Roland Betancourt illuminates the central role of images in Byzantine culture, paying close attention to how basic questions about images and their power in the medieval world can inform the ways in which images are thought about today. Covering the crucial years of the Byzantine Empire (roughly 330–1453), Betancourt looks at the art, architecture, and theories of visual culture in the medieval lands of the eastern Mediterranean, encompassing places such as Sicily, Venice, North Africa, the Levant, and the Balkans, and in modern-day Turkiye, Greece, Syria, and Russia.

3-session series: Mon., Aug. 17–31, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1W0-022; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

From Pollock to Pop Art

Postwar Art in America

Between 1945 and 1970, American artists dramatically reshaped modern art. Abstract Expressionists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Mark Rothko, Franz Kline, and Lee Krasner introduced large-scale, gestural paintings that emphasized emotion, spontaneity, and physical engagement with the canvas. Their innovations shifted the center of the art world to the United States.

In the 1960s, Pop artists—including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, and James Rosenquist—challenged this intensity by transforming consumer culture, celebrity, and mass media into bold, ironic imagery. Art historian Jennie Hirsh explores how these movements, artists, and critics collectively defined a transformative postwar era, establishing the foundations of the American cultural landscape recognized today.

Fri., Aug. 21, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-171; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Contemporary Women Artists: Five Superstars

Art by women is now widely exhibited, and recent decades have seen a surge of interest in female painters, sculptors, and installation artists working in diverse media and styles. Art historian Nancy G. Heller highlights five exceptional women who have earned MacArthur “genius” grants, major retrospectives, and honors from international exhibitions like the Venice Biennale.

The artists are Simone Leigh, known for making massive, stylized clay and bronze images of Black women; Julie Mehretu, who produces multi-layered abstract paintings with subtle references to landscapes and politics; the humorous and insightful work of Wendy Red Star (Apsáalooke/Crow) that explores her cultural history; Amy Sherald, who has reinvigorated the venerable painted portrait; and Spanish sculptor Cristina Iglesias, who has produced work that can only be viewed while wearing scuba gear.

Thurs., Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-471; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Artful Mind, Tranquil Mind

INSTRUCTOR: Sushmita Mazumdar

ONLINE: Mon., June 29–Aug. 3, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AMY; Members $160; Nonmembers $195

Developing Your Creative Practice

INSTRUCTOR: Kate Lewis

ONLINE: Mon., June 29, July 13, July 27, and Aug. 10, 10:30 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ALG; Members $215; Nonmembers $240

IN PERSON

Observation and Perception:

Unlocking the Skill of Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan

IN PERSON: Sat., July 11–Aug. 15, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMK; Members $235; Nonmembers $270

Introduction to Figure Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: Tom Kim

IN PERSON: Sun., July 12–Aug. 9, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANB; Members $210; Nonmembers $245

Figure Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan

IN PERSON: Sun., July 12–Aug. 16, 2:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AML; Members $265; Nonmembers $300

Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio

Painting in the Key of Color A Streamlined Approach to Color in Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Sun., Aug. 16, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AMD; Members $60; Nonmembers $75

By Lauren Kingsland

Basic Color Exercises

Explore how and why color elements interact within a composition, particularly when using found colors in the form of fabrics and papers. Create samples to be used as studies or combined in a larger piece.

INSTRUCTOR: Lauren Kingsland

ONLINE: Mon., July 13–Aug. 3, 5 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALH; Members $145; Nonmembers $170

Portrait Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: Eric Westbrook

ONLINE: Wed., July 1–15, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0AKS; Members $155; Nonmembers $180

NEW CLASSES

Drawing Animals and Nature

The Sketchbook Habit:

The Art of Everyday Life

INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston

ONLINE: Sun., July 12, Aug. 2, and Aug. 16, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AMX; Members $165; Nonmembers $190

Explore creative approaches to drawing animals and nature using both wet and dry media. Drawing inspiration from Smithsonian’s National Zoo photographs and other reference images, students practice careful observation and expressive sketching.

INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

ONLINE: Wed., July 8–29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALS; Members $155; Nonmembers $180

By Scott Rawlins

Drawing Insects

To prepare for drawing insects, learn about their classification, anatomy, and relationships with other forms of life. A short history of entomological illustration introduces entomological drawing techniques.

INSTRUCTOR: Scott Rawlins

ONLINE: Thurs., July 2–Aug. 6, 11 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ALY; Members $225; Nonmembers $260

Beginning Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter

ONLINE: Sun., July 12–Aug. 16, 10:30 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ALF; Members $220; Nonmembers $255

Digital Drawing Fundamentals

INSTRUCTOR: Mike O’Brien

TWO ONLINE OPTIONS: Wed., July 15, 6 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ALW); Wed., Aug. 12, 6 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ALX); Members $65; Nonmembers $80

Artwork on Toned Paper

INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Thurs., July 30 and Aug. 6, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALK; Members $95; Nonmembers $120

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit

The Mark of van Gogh

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 5–19, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0AMA; Members $165; Nonmembers $190

NEW CLASSES

Using Colored Pencils to Draw Mushrooms on Coquille Board

Tap your inner naturalist and draw mushrooms on coquille board, a textured paper that reduces drawn lines to a stipple-like pattern resembling a mezzotint. Experiment with a variety of colored media on this unique surface.

INSTRUCTOR: Scott Rawlins

ONLINE: Thurs., July 9–30, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AMG; Members $155; Nonmembers $180

Shadows First

An Alternative Approach to Drawing Portraits

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Thurs., Aug. 6–20, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AMB; Members $165; Nonmembers $190

Jump into Acrylic Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Carolyn Marshall Wright

TWO IN-PERSON OPTIONS: Sat., July 11, 10:30 a.m. (CODE 1E0-AKP); Sat., July 25, 10:30 a.m. (CODE 1E0-AKQ); Ripley Center; Members $135; Nonmembers $150

Beginning

Oil Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan

IN PERSON: Sat., July 11–Aug. 15, 2:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMJ; Members $240; Nonmembers $275

Sketching the Smithsonian

Weekly Lunchtime Drawing Series

Travel the world with the summer edition of Sketching the Smithsonian as you take an artful break and explore the fascinating, vast collections of this extraordinary museum.

INSTRUCTOR: Morgan Kuster

ONLINE: Tues., July 14–Aug. 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0AMF; Members $95; Nonmembers $130; individual sessions also available

Complete Colored Pencils

INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Thurs., Aug. 13 and 20, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALL; Members $135; Nonmembers $160

Intermediate Oil Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan

IN PERSON: Sun., July 12–Aug. 16, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMM; Members $285; Nonmembers $320

An Introduction to Watercolor: Loose and Beautiful

INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid

IN PERSON: Sat., July 18, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ALP; Members $140; Nonmembers $165

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit En Plein Air Painting in a Smithsonian Garden Post-Impressionism Inspired by Cézanne

INSTRUCTOR: Sandra Gobar

IN PERSON: Sun., Aug. 2 and 9, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AME; Members $145; Nonmembers $170

NEW CLASS

Painting Vacation Memories

Capture the magic of your travels in a whole new way. Learn how to transform your favorite vacation photos of places into beautiful, expressive paintings in watercolor and ink. INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid IN PERSON: Sun., July 19, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ALQ; Members $140; Nonmembers $165

Continued Watercolor

By Lubna Zahid

Introduction to Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter

ONLINE: Mon., June 29–Aug. 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALD; Members $240; Nonmembers $275

The Magic of Light and Shadow in Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid

ONLINE: Tues., June 30–Aug. 18, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ALM; Members $275; Nonmembers $310

Textures and Techniques in Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid ONLINE: Tues., June 30–Aug. 18, 5 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALN; Members $275; Nonmembers $310

MIXED MEDIA

Mixed Media Constructions

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Sat., July 11–Aug. 1, 2:15 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMT; Members $145; Nonmembers $170

Celebrating Smithsonian Gardens

From Sketching to Creating in Mixed Media

INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard IN PERSON: Sun., July 12, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ALT; Members $115; Nonmembers $130

INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter ONLINE: Tues., June 30–Aug. 4, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALE; Members $240; Nonmembers $275

Principles of Abstraction

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan ONLINE: Wed., July 1–Aug. 5, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AMH; Members $240; Nonmembers $275

Watercolor Journeys Travel Sketching

INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Briggs ONLINE: Tues., July 7 and Wed., July 8, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AKR; Members $140; Nonmembers $165

Abstract Watercolor The Next Level

INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley ONLINE: Thurs., July 30–Aug. 20, 12 p.m., CODE 1E0-AKW; Members $145; Nonmembers $170

Landscape Painting from Photos

INSTRUCTOR: Eric Westbrook ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 5–19, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0AKT; Members $145; Nonmembers $170

From Frustration to Flow Harnessing Wet Techniques in Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman ONLINE: Sun., Aug. 9, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0AMC; Members $60; Nonmembers $75

NEW CLASS

Tools of the Trade

Getting a grip on the myriad of tools and materials for mixed media can be daunting. Explore paints, mediums, inks, adhesives, and the array of equipment that can accelerate your creativity and ensure that your artwork is finished to a high standard.

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Sun., July 12, 1 p.m., Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMV; Members $70; Nonmembers $85

Deconstruct, Reconstruct

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Sun., July 26, 10:30 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMW; Members $80; Nonmembers $95

Paper Frenzy

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Sat., Aug. 8 and 15, 1 p.m., Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMU; Members $120; Nonmembers $145

FIBER ARTS

PERSON

Embroidery 101 Workshop

INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley

IN PERSON: Sat., July 25, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AKV; Members $75; Nonmembers $90

Beginning Tapestry Weaving

INSTRUCTOR: Tea Okropiridze

ONLINE: Tues., June 30–Aug. 4, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ANA; Members $175; Nonmembers $210

The Painterly Gel Print

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

ONLINE: Tues., June 30–July 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AMQ; Members $105; Nonmembers $130

Mixed Media and Quick-Sketching Warmups

NEW CLASSES

Knitting Lace

INSTRUCTOR: Marcie WolfHubbard

ONLINE: Wed., July 8–29, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALR; Members $130; Nonmembers $155

Learn delicate stitch patterns and new techniques to knit lace. Discover easier methods to achieve the unique texture of lace and get ideas for new projects.

INSTRUCTOR: Ann Richards

ONLINE: Mon., June 29, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AKM; Members $55; Nonmembers $70

Using Embroidery in Mixed Media

Explore ways to incorporate embroidered stitching into mixed-media artworks on paper and fabric, including hand-printed and hand-painted fabric, image transfer techniques, paper-weaving, fiber collage, and cyanotype.

INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley

ONLINE: Wed., July 8–Aug. 12, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AKU; Members $155; Nonmembers $190

Shuffled Shapes Table Runner

In this playful two-session class, create a lively quilted table runner using stacked and shuffled shapes. Working by machine, layer, cut, and rearrange fabric to discover unexpected patterns and movement.

INSTRUCTOR: Lauren Kingsland

ONLINE: Sat., July 11 and 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0ALJ; Members $110; Nonmembers $135

Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio

Mosaic Jewelry

INSTRUCTOR: Bonnie Fitzgerald

IN PERSON: Sat., July 18, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AKN; Members $95; Nonmembers $110

Handmade Storybooks

INSTRUCTOR: Sushmita Mazumdar

IN PERSON: Sat., Aug. 8, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMZ; Members $80; Nonmembers $95

ONLINE

Fibula Pin Workshop

INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Sat., July 11, 11 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ALU; Members $75; Nonmembers $90

PHOTOGRAPHY

IN PERSON

On-Location Photography

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

IN PERSON: Sun., July 12–Aug. 16, 1:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ALC; Members $205; Nonmembers $240

NEW CLASS

The Perfect Pairing Books and Collage

If you appreciate the beauty of book forms as three-dimensional art and love collage, this class is for you. Learn different ways to create simple handmade books, including drum leaf binding, accordion (concertina), and types that use pamphlet and other simple stitching.

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Sat., July 11–Aug. 1, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMS; Members $145; Nonmembers $170

Introduction to Foundational Hand Calligraphy

INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani

ONLINE: Sat., July 11–Aug. 1, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AMN; Members $140; Nonmembers $165

Multi-strand Necklaces Workshop

INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Sat., Aug. 8, 12 p.m., CODE 1E0-ALV; Members $75; Nonmembers $90

Alternative Pens for Mark Making and Calligraphy

INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani

ONLINE: Sat., Aug. 8 and 15, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AMP; Members $105; Nonmembers $130

NEW CLASSES

Photo 101

Learn how to get out of Auto mode and use your camera to its full potential. Dive into what the settings mean and how to use them. Participants are shown how to make the appropriate changes on their cameras.

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Thurs., July 2–23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AKZ; Members $160; Nonmembers $185

Macro Photography

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Wed., July 1 and 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AKX; Members $90; Nonmembers $115

Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio

Botanic Gardens and Arboretums

Learn strategies to capture the beautiful features, including architecture and outdoor sculpture, that make your local botanic garden or arboretum unique. Take these techniques out in the field and come back for photo sharing, follow-up questions, and feedback.

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Thurs., July 30 and Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALA; Members $90; Nonmembers $115

One-Hour Photo

Learn how to capture eye-catching photos, then go out during your lunch hour and photograph the architecture, public sculpture, and city life that surround you. Bonus: While taking pictures, you also reduce stress and increase mindfulness.

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 5–19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AKY; Members $125; Nonmembers $150

Smithsonian Associates expert-led Study Tours offer one-of-a-kind in-person experiences. They’re the perfect way to learn more about the places and topics that fascinate you, and you’re sure to discover plenty of new favorites along the way.

Walking Tour

An Immersion in Nature

Japanese Forest Bathing in Rock Creek Park

Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, began in Japan in the 1980s and draws on Shinto and Buddhist reverence for nature. The practice encourages slow, full-sensory immersion in the outdoors. Studies from Japan, Europe, and North America show that quiet time in nature can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels while improving mood and cognition, with new research focused on the benefits of natural spaces within cities.

Join certified forest-therapy guide and author Melanie Choukas-Bradley for a 2-hour walk along a scenic stretch of Rock Creek in the nation’s oldest urban national park. Move slowly, taking in the flowing creek, lush June foliage, and calming sights, sounds, and scents. This restorative late-spring experience offers an inviting introduction to why forest bathing is gaining popularity worldwide.

Participants receive a signed copy of Choukas-Bradley’s Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons

TWO OPTIONS: Thurs., June 4 (CODE 1CS-A02); Fri., June 5 (CODE 1CS-B02); 8:30–10:30 a.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $60; Nonmembers $80

U Street

Shaped by History, Musical Legends, and Relative Newcomers

The U Street NW neighborhood has long been a vibrant corridor for the rich social, civic, and cultural life of Washington’s African American community. Join local guide Lynn O’Connell on a walking tour that focuses on the history of the neighborhood.

The tour begins at the African American Civil War Memorial, which honors the more than 200,000 African American soldiers and sailors who served during the Civil War. It continues to several of the sites for which U Street was dubbed the Black Broadway—clubs and performance venues like the legendary Howard Theatre and the Lincoln Theatre, which drew audiences to hear headliners such as Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and D.C.-born Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington.

Along the way, learn about the riots that started on April 4, 1968, following the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Traverse the area known as Little Ethiopia, named for the large Ethiopian population who settled there in the 1990s. Discover one-of-a-kind murals featuring such history makers as Ellington and go-go legend Chuck Brown.

THREE OPTIONS: Fri., June 5 (CODE 1CW-A08); Sun., June 7 (CODE 1CW-B08); Wed., June 10 (CODE 1CW-C08); 6–8 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $50; Nonmembers $70

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Historic Frederick County

Frederick County, Maryland, established in 1748, played a pivotal role in early American history. Nestled at the crossroads of major colonial roads, it became a hub for trade, agriculture, and settlement. The county saw action during both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, providing troops, supplies, and refuge. Today, Frederick County and its biggest city, Frederick, are known for well-preserved architecture, historic charm, and a vibrant cultural and artistic community. Spend the day exploring some of the county’s highlights with local guides.

Begin at the Frederick Visitor Center, where your guide discusses the county’s founding, Revolutionary War roots, and role in shaping the region. Embark on a guided walking tour of the city of Frederick, focusing on the history, art, and architecture of the well-preserved downtown.

After lunch at Dutch’s Daughter, travel to Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums, a scenic estate that immerses visitors in 18th-century plantation life. Explore historic farm buildings, period gardens, and exhibitions that reveal the daily rhythms, crafts, and traditions of the area’s residents. Complete the day at Catoctin Furnace, an 18th-century iron-making site that produced iron goods and ammunition for the Continental Army and grew into a thriving industrial village staffed by enslaved African Americans and later European immigrants. Guides tell the site’s history as you explore the remaining furnace stack and surrounding village structures.

Sat., June 6, 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-010; Members $191; Nonmembers $255

Maritime Baltimore

Beginning with Capt. John Smith’s expedition in 1608 to the upper Chesapeake Bay (the first by a European), through the British attack on Fort McHenry in 1814, to the 21st-century cruise liners and cargo vessels that dock there, the Port of Baltimore is one of the country’s preeminent maritime centers. Naval historian Abby Mullen leads a day in the harbor exploring three vessels and celebrating Baltimore’s role as a vital port in maritime history.

At the USS Constellation—an 1854 sloop-of-war and the last sail-only warship designed and built by the U.S. Navy—a guided tour examines how sail-powered vessels shaped diplomacy, commerce, and conflict in the 19th century. The day continues at the USS Torsk, a World War II-era submarine whose compact spaces and advanced technology reveal a dramatically different mode of naval warfare. Participants then explore the Liberty ship SS John W. Brown, one of only two remaining vessels of the historic fleet that moved troops and supplies throughout the European and Pacific theaters during World War II. The day concludes with a harbor cruise, offering a fresh perspective on the Port of Baltimore. Sat., June 13, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 pm.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-011; Members $220; Nonmembers $280; a boxed lunch is included

Sailing Tour

Design on the Water

Washington, DC, Architecture Cruise

Spend a summer evening sailing on the Potomac, taking in Washington, D.C.’s architectural icons and history from a new perspective.

Cast off from Georgetown with your architecture guide from DC Design Tours and professional crew from Capitol River Cruises. As you cruise south on the Potomac, soak in sunset views of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and Georgetown waterfront, then sail past Theodore Roosevelt Island, under Arlington Memorial Bridge, and along the National Mall and Tidal Basin while learning about iconic landmarks ranging from the Watergate Hotel to the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery. Along the way, discover other gems, such as the C&O Canal, Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove, and Navy and Marine Memorial.

TWO OPTIONS: Thurs., July 16 (CODE 1CS-A03); Thurs., July 23 (CODE 1CS-B03); 6–8 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $70; Nonmembers $90

Heritage and Homes of the Shenandoah Valley

Set amid the rolling landscape of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, three distinguished historic houses—Glen Burnie, Belle Grove, and Long Branch—offer a window into the region’s architectural and cultural heritage. Led by regional historian Hayden Mathews, explore how these estates shaped life in the valley from the mid-18th through the early 19th centuries.

Begin at Glen Burnie House, the late 18th-century home of Winchester founder James Wood and now part of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. A guided tour from the head curator highlights the Wood family, the house’s Georgian craftsmanship, and an exceptional collection of decorative arts, followed by a walk through its terraced gardens.

After a boxed lunch, continue to Belle Grove. The 1794 limestone manor built for one of James Madison’s sisters reflects the cultural traditions of early settlers and late 18th-century architectural ideals. A guided tour examines its Jeffersonian design and collections while also considering the lives of the free and enslaved people who lived and worked on the estate.

At Long Branch Historic House, a refined Classical Revival mansion whose design was influenced by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the second Architect of the Capitol, discover early 19th-century grandeur set against the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Conclude at the Burwell-Morgan Mill, an operational 18th-century gristmill illuminating the agricultural economy that sustained the valley’s great houses.

Sat., July 18, 8:15 a.m.–7:15 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-013; Members $206; Nonmembers $270

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

2-Day Tour

An Artful Weekend in New York

The Morgan Library & Museum, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and Frick Collection

Discover three of New York City’s most renowned cultural treasures, including the Frick Collection. The museum, reopened in 2025 after four years of restoration, has returned to its historic home in the Upper East Side mansion of industrialist Henry Clay Frick.

Led by art historian Judy Pomeranz, spend an afternoon at the Morgan Library & Museum, whose architectural history is as rich as its collections of over 350,000 illuminated manuscripts, rare books, literary and historical manuscripts, music manuscripts, and drawings, spanning from antiquity to the present day. Designed in 1904 for banking magnate Pierpont Morgan, the opulent private library has a collection that includes original manuscripts by Charles Dickens and Leonardo da Vinci. A guided tour offers a curated exploration of its treasures, followed by time to explore on your own.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum offers a guided look at the Thannhauser Collection, built by collector and art dealer Justin K. Thannhauser (1892–1976).

Thannhauser’s gifts brought the Guggenheim works by artists such as Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso. The collection provides an important survey of late 19th- and early 20th-century Modernism. During this critical period—as artists sought to liberate art from academic genres and introduce contemporary subject matter—the avant-garde investigated novel materials and methods, setting the stage for the development of radical new styles.

Explore the Frick Collection’s remarkable range of artwork, spanning from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. Wander through masterpieces by Old Masters such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Goya and experience the grandeur of the museum’s collection of decorative arts and period rooms. These beautifully preserved spaces offer a glimpse into the lavish lives of New York’s Gilded Age elite. The heart of the Frick, the serene Garden Court, provides a peaceful retreat year-round.

Tour participants stay at The Iroquois New York. An early three-course supper is included before you set off on Monday.

Sun., July 26, 8 a.m.–Mon., July 27, 10:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-ART; Members $765; Nonmembers $1,020

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

A Journey Through Modern Art

The Hirshhorn Museum and Glenstone

Join art guide Nancy Hirshbein as you spend a summer’s day immersed in the ideas, rivalries, scientific and social developments, and collectors that shaped modern and contemporary art.

Begin with a lecture from your tour leader, then visit the Hirshhorn Museum before opening hours, where your study leader takes you through “Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960,” an exhibition charting the rapid succession of movements that shaped Modernism and ushered in the rise of Abstraction. The exhibition features works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Joan Miró plus works from 19 contemporary artists whose contributions underscore how many of the revolutionary ideas introduced years ago continue to resonate today.

En route to Glenstone, your study leader provides an overview of the museum and selected works. Spend the afternoon enjoying a self-guided exploration of the campus. Set in a sweeping natural landscape, the museum invites visitors to delve into modern and contemporary art both indoors and among its integrated outdoor sculptures. “Ties of our common kindred” marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, tracing the evolution of American art through works by figures such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Cindy Sherman, and Andy Warhol alongside a focused presentation of three of Jasper Johns’ influential paintings.

Lunch at a local restaurant is included.

Fri., July 31, 8:15 a.m.–5 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-014; Members $158; Nonmembers $218

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn

Walking Tour

In 1791, Pierre L’Enfant envisioned the National Mall as a grand “public walk,” a sweeping promenade at the heart of the capital. But by 1900, his ambitious plan had been largely overlooked and altered. That changed with the influential McMillan Plan of 1902, which reimagined the ceremonial core of Washington, D.C., shaping much of what visitors see on the Mall today.

Discover the stories behind the once-planned museum park and the now-vanished railroad station and the curious reason why the Mall doesn’t align with the compass. Marvel at a rich tapestry of architectural styles represented by the Smithsonian buildings. Beg in with the Gothic Revival Smithsonian Castle, built in 1846 and the first permanent structure on the Mall, and follow the architectural journey to the striking 2016 National Museum of African American History and Culture. Along the way, encounter the exuberant Victorian flair of the Arts and Industries Building and the Beaux Arts grandeur of the National Museum of Natural History.

Continue by comparing the distinct takes on Modernism in buildings such as the Hirshhorn Museum, National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, and the African American History and Culture Museum. The tour concludes with a glimpse at the Mall’s newest landmark, the Frank Gehry–designed Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial.

The tour leader is Bill Keene, a lecturer in history, urban studies, and architecture.

Arts and Industries Building Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

THREE OPTIONS: Sun., Aug. 2, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. (CODE 1CW-A09); Sat., Aug. 8, 8:30 a.m.–11 a.m. (CODE 1CW-B09); Fri., Aug. 14, 8:30 a.m.–11 a.m. (CODE 1CW-C09); detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $70; Related program: The Smithsonian Museums, p. 36

Harpers Ferry and John Brown’s Raid

At the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers lies Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, a small town whose dramatic setting became the stage for one of the most consequential events in the struggle over slavery. Historian Christopher Hamner leads a day-long exploration of the site of John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, an attempt by the radical abolitionist to spark a nationwide slave uprising. Though the raid lasted little more than 36 hours, its repercussions reverberated across the nation and helped propel the United States toward civil war.

After arriving at the Harpers Ferry Visitor Center, travel to the historic Lower Town for a guided walking tour that follows in the footsteps of Brown and his followers while exploring the town’s layered history. Enjoy a short hike to Jefferson Rock, named for the former president and offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. A visit to the former campus of Storer College highlights its important role as a center of African American education and memory in the years after the Civil War. The afternoon includes free time to explore the town and its museums, including the John Brown Museum, before returning to Washington, D.C.

Lunch is included.

Sat., Aug. 8, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-015; Members $185; Nonmembers $245

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Arts and Crafts Movement in Philadelphia

Trace the evolution of the Arts and Crafts movement in Philadelphia through a day-long exploration of two remarkable sites that together tell a story of craftsmanship, community, and design. Led by Bonita Billman, the program begins at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where a curator-led tour of “Workshop of the World: Arts and Crafts in Philadelphia, 1876–1926” reveals how the city’s industrial strength and artistic ambition shaped a distinctly local interpretation of the movement. Featuring more than 250 objects, from finely crafted furniture to metalwork and textiles, the exhibition highlights makers who sought to unite beauty and utility in response to the challenges of modern life.

Spend the afternoon in Rose Valley, where a guided tour of the Rose Valley Museum introduces one of America’s most significant Arts and Crafts communities. Housed in Thunderbird Lodge, a beautifully preserved Arts and Crafts–style building, the museum offers a window into a bold social experiment. Founded in 1901 by architect William Lightfoot Price, Rose Valley was env isioned as a place where art, labor, and daily life were seamlessly integrated, emphasizing craftsmanship, communal living, and a rejection of industrial mass production. A walking tour of the Rose Valley Historic District with a local guide gives a deeper look at the community that formed around the movement. Lunch at a local restaurant is included.

Fri., Aug. 28, 7 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-016; Members $267; Nonmembers $327

5-Day Tour

Wonders by Wright: Buffalo and Beyond

At the turn of the 20th century, Buffalo was a prosperous industrial city, drawing worldwide attention as the site of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. The city attracted well-known architects for high-profile projects, including H. H. Richardson, Louis Sullivan, and Daniel Burnham—as well as upstarts like Frank Lloyd Wright, who looked to make his name with his first major office building.

The Larkin Soap Company’s headquarters brought him that recognition, as well as the foundation for a lasting friendship with one of his most important patrons, Darwin D. Martin. Over the next decades, Wright would go on to produce many iconic structures, but he referred to the complex he built for Martin and his family as “perfect.” The Martin House and Wright’s other Buffalo designs have become vital parts of the city’s architectural history. Bill Keene, a lecturer in architecture and urban studies, leads a 5-day tour that highlights significant works by Wright and his contemporaries.

DAY 1: Participants arrive in Buffalo. The tour opens with a welcome lecture and dinner.

DAY 2: Begin your Buffalo adventure with a driving tour led by local architectural historian Martin Wachadlo, highlighting the rich architectural heritage of the city, stopping at and touring many buildings by masters of American architecture. After lunch, spend the afternoon touring the East Aurora campus of the Roycrofters, members of an early 20th-century American Arts and Crafts movement. View a printing demonstration and try your hand making your own print and binding a journal. Dinner is at the historic Roycroft Inn.

DAY 3: The day begins with a guided tour of the Richardson Olmsted Campus, a National Historic Landmark designed by Henry Hobson Richardson with Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Afterward, enjoy a tour of Buffalo City Hall, an Art Deco gem known for its striking mosaics, followed by a guided visit of the 1905 Martin House complex. The buildings were commissioned by Martin and stand as one of Wright’s most significant early works, reflecting the height of his Prairie School period. The tour includes the main residence, Barton House, and the gardener’s cottage.

DAY 4: At Graycliff, Darwin and Isabel Martin’s summer house overlooking Lake Erie, master docents detail the history of the light-filled house, created by Wright at the request of Isabel Martin in reaction to the couple’s darker residence in town. The afternoon includes a guided riverboat tour that travels the nearby historic waterways.

DAY 5: Before airport departures, enjoy a morning tour of two Wright designs built posthumously: the Fontana Boathouse—originally created in 1905 for the University of Wisconsin and finally constructed in 2007 on Lake Erie for the West Side Rowing Club—and the Buffalo Filling Station, designed in 1927 and realized in 2014 inside the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum.

Wed., Aug. 19, 6 p.m.–Sun., Aug. 23, 1 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-BUF; Members $2,060; Nonmembers $2,745

NOTE: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to Buffalo.

Market along the Freedom Trail

4-Day Tour

Revolutionary Boston

Cradle of Liberty

Few American cities are as deeply entwined with the birth of the nation as Boston. From village greens where militias first mustered to crowded wharves and meetinghouses alive with revolutionary debate, trace the dramatic opening chapters of the American Revolution. Guided by historian Fred Zilian, explore the landscapes and ideas that transformed a cluster of colonial towns into the epicenter of a struggle for independence.

DAY 1: Participants arrive in Boston. Begin with a welcome orientation, dinner, and lecture at the hotel from your study leader introducing the people, politics, and pivotal events of Boston’s revolutionary world.

DAY 2: During a morning excursion to Lexington and Concord, stand on the village green in Lexington and at the North Bridge in Concord and visualize how local resistance ignited a war that reshaped history. Back in Boston, a driving tour reveals the city’s evolving civic and architectural identity, from Beacon Hill to Harvard Square.

DAY 3: A guided walking tour traces key sites of protest, debate, and defiance along the Freedom Trail, with time to explore Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Then move on to Boston Harbor for a cruise that highlights the city’s maritime and military significance. The day concludes in the North End with visits to Copps Hill Burying Ground, Old North Church, and the Paul Revere House.

DAY 4: Conclude with a visit to the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, and USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship still afloat, before your airport transfer.

Sun., Sept. 13, 6 p.m.–Wed., Sept. 16, 4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-BOS; Members $1,747; Nonmembers $2,329

NOTE: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to and from Boston.

Bus Tour

Historic Chestertown

With a Cruise on the Schooner Sultana

Spend an unforgettable day exploring the rich history of the Chesapeake Bay with regional historian Hayden Mathews. The journey begins as Mathews weaves together the geological, environmental, maritime, cultural, and architectural threads that have shaped the region. This legacy comes to life as you explore historic Chestertown, Maryland, and embark on a 2.5-hour sail aboard the Sultana, a replica 1768 topsail schooner.

Chestertown was founded in 1704 as an official Crown Port of Entry and, as such, enjoyed a lucrative maritime trade that fueled the local economy and funded construction of the Georgian brick mansions that still line the streets of the town. While the original Boston-built Sultana patrolled the coastline of colonial North America from 1768 to 1772 enforcing the hated Townshend Acts or “tea taxes,” the replica Sultana was built by the Sultana Educational Foundation in Chestertown to serve as a floating classroom for students and members of the public where they can learn about regional maritime history and have a hands-on experience in learning about Bay ecology as well.

A reproduction of the 1768 schooner Sultana under full sail on the upper Chesapeake Bay

In Chestertown, meet Chris Cerino, a former mayor and the vice president of the Sultana Education Foundation, who leads a walking tour of the town’s National Register Historic District, spotlighting buildings of special interest and providing insightful stories about local history. The tour concludes at the headquarters of the foundation, where Cerino orchestrates a multimedia presentation that provides a one-of-a-kind experience of the Bay’s cultural and natural histories. A box lunch is included in the day.

Sun., Sept. 13, 7:45 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-003; Members $199; Nonmembers $259

4-Day Tour

St. Louis: Gateway to the West

Step into the heart of America, where history echoes through classic landmarks from the soaring Gateway Arch to neighborhoods shaped by immigration, innovation, and art. This 4-day journey explores St. Louis’s pivotal role in westward expansion, global ambition, and social change—set within a region long home to Indigenous communities—from the Mississippi River and the legacy of the 1904 World’s Fair to the communities that continue to define it. Through notable sites and local stories, discover how St. Louis became both gateway to the West and mirror of the American experience. Tami Goldman, director of tourism and visitor experience at the Missouri Historical Society, is the guide.

Highlights include

Gateway Arch National Park

The stainless steel arch rises above the Mississippi as a symbol of national expansion. From the top, enjoy sweeping views of the riverfront city that launched the Corps of Discovery in 1804. St. Louis stood as the final major outpost before Lewis and Clark traveled west

Missouri History Museum (Forest Park)

Located on the former grounds of the 1904 World’s Fair, the museum features exhibitions on the fair and the evolution of Forest Park. A special behind-the-scenes experience provides rare access to collections and curatorial insights.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Founded in 1859, this internationally renowned institution is a leader in plant science and global conservation. Its historic landscapes and the Climatron, the first geodesic dome greenhouse, reflect St. Louis’ longstanding commitment to scientific inquiry.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

Across the river from St. Louis, Cahokia preserves the largest and most influential pre-Columbian city north of Mexico, built by the Mississippian culture between about 1050 and 1350. Its monumental earthworks offer a powerful glimpse into early Indigenous urban

planning and a once-thriving, sophisticated society. Enjoy a private guided tour of the site.

National Museum of Transportation

Home to one of the nation’s largest collections of period locomotives and railcars, the museum highlights the rail networks that helped open the American West.

Foundry Hall (City Foundry)

A vibrant food hall featuring independent chefs and flavors that reflect the city’s immigrant roots and contemporary creativity.

Sat., Sept. 26, 6 p.m.–Tues., Sept. 29, 4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1NN-STL; Members $1,491; Nonmembers $1,988

NOTE: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to St. Louis.

COST INCLUDES: 3 nights of accommodations, bus transportation, services of a study leader and Smithsonian representative, 8 meals (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners), gratuities, taxes, and entrance fees.

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Smithsonian Associates Membership Levels and Benefits

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Copy of the Smithsonian’s annual report

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One gift membership at the Explorer level to give to a family member or friend (restrictions apply)

Reserved seating at most Smithsonian Associates in-person programs

Invitations to backstage meet-and-greets at select Smithsonian Associates in-person programs

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Invitation for two to the prestigious annual Smithsonian Weekend

Recognition in the Smithsonian’s annual report

Four complimentary registrations for an online program or in-person lecture (value equal to $35 per registration)

Additional 20% discount on member prices for Art Collectors Program fine-art prints

Two gift memberships at the Explorer level to give to family members or friends (restrictions apply)

Special event invitations as available

Quarterly Director’s Roundtable digital communications (opportunities to gather in person when applicable)

Invitation to a private event with members of Associates’ leadership

Effective April 1, 2025

Program Planner (New listings in red); (In-person programs •)

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For all Smithsonian Associates online programs, study tours, and Studio Arts classes: If you wish to cancel or exchange an order costing more than $40, please contact Customer Service via email at least two weeks before the program date to request a credit. Please note that there is a $10 cancellation fee, as well as a cost adjustment when there is a price difference if you are applying your credit to another program.

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